PUEBLO, Colo. (January 30, 2015) – Senior center Tyrone Marshall (Denver, Colo.) scored 12 points in the final eight minutes to help propel the Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team to a 77-67 win versus Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe New Mexico Highlands University Friday at Massari Arena.
The Pack (13-7, 9-5 RMAC) shot 40.9 percent from the floor, but went just 6-of-26 (23.1%) from long range, more than four 3-pointers below their average. Highlands (4-14, 4-9 RMAC) went 20-of-54 from the field for 37 percent and 6-of-18 from 3-point land, shooting 33.3 percent.
The ThunderWolves had three starters score in double figures with Marshall leading the way with 20 points that tied a season-high. He also added nine rebounds, just shy of his second double-double of the season.
Senior Jed Knafelc (G, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) scored nine of his 16 points in the first three minutes of the game as he made three 3-pointers in that time span. Junior Bronson Moton (F, Aurora, Colo.) finished with 14 points, eight coming in the second half. Freshman Josh Smith (G, Colorado Springs, Colo.) added 13 points off the bench.
CSU-Pueblo would open the game on an 11-3 run, led by Knafelc. The Cowboys would battle back led by the trio of Jonathon Mines, Ricky Norris and Kendrick Nichols. They combined for 26 of the team's 31 first-half points to make it 32-31 at half in favor of the ThunderWolves.
The three would finish the game accounting for 57 of the Cowboys' 67 points and Mines would lead the trio with 26.
In the second half Highlands continued to battle and eventually took their first lead of the game since the 18:31 mark in the first half when they led 3-2. For the last 11 minutes of the game there were four lead changes and one tie. The Cowboys led 52-51 with just under nine minutes in the game, but the ThunderWolves would regain the lead off a Knalfec layup.
After earning the advantage the ThunderWolves turned it on and Marshall would kick into high gear, scoring 12 of his 20 points in the final eight minutes. He scored nine points on three old fashioned three point plays, which included finishing them off with his patented jump-hook, then the and-one.
The win marks the second straight victory for the Pack, while CSU-Pueblo ended a three-game win streak by the Cowboys.
The ThunderWolves will look to extend it to three Saturday night against Western New Mexico University at Massari Arena beginning at 7:30 p.m. At halftime of the men's game, CSU-Pueblo will celebrate the 2014 NCAA Division II National Champion football team by unveiling the National Championship Banner.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
