KINGSVILLE, Texas (November 14, 2015) – Newcomer Chris Golden (Sr., G, Milwaukee, Wis.) was strong in his debut, as he guided the Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team to an 83-79 season-opener victory against Texas A&M International University, Saturday.
Golden poured in 30 points on 10-of-14 (71.4%) shooting from the field and a 7-of-9 (77.8%) performance from 3-point land. Sophomore guards Will Newman (Lawndale, Calif.) and Josh Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo.) both came off the bench and totaled 11 points each. Senior Odessa Lear (Parkhill, Colo.) gathered a career-high 10 rebounds and added seven points.
The Pack shot 50 percent from the field and knocked down 12 3-pointers on 22 attempts (54.5%). CSU-Pueblo was an efficient 17-of-20 (85%) from the charity stripe. CSU-Pueblo held the DustDevils to 44.6 percent shooting from the field and nine 3-pointers. The Pack overcame 15 turnovers and a 32-16 deficit in the paint and never trailed in the game.
CSU-Pueblo owned a 37-34 halftime lead and the small lead held to 15:33 showing on the second half game clock and the scoreboard reading 42-40.
Then, Golden took over and guided a 22-10 ThunderWolves run to open their largest lead of the game at 64-50 with 6:06 remaining. Golden posted 13 of his 20 second-half points in the run.
Texas A&M International got within four at 74-70 with 1:21 remaining, but a three-point play by Lear pushed the Pack back to seven at 77-70. CSU-Pueblo went 6-for-6 from the line in the final minute for the game.
CSU-Pueblo concludes the Emerald Beach Hotel Javelina Tip-Off Challenge in Kingsville, Texas with a contest against University of Texas of the Permian Basin Sunday at 3 p.m.
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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.
