SALT LAKE CITY (January 30, 2016) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team suffered its third straight loss Saturday, as poor shooting and a lack of defense equaled an 89-75 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference setback at Westminster College.
The ThunderWolves (12-9. 8-7 RMAC) shot just 36.8 percent from the field, their second straight game shooting in the 30 percent range. The Pack allowed the Griffins to shoot 60.4 percent from the field and hit on 50 percent from long range (8-of-16). CSU-Pueblo also hit eight 3-pointers, but were 23.5 percent from beyond that arc, well below their average of 37.7 percent entering the game.
Sophomore Josh Smith (G, Colorado Springs, Colo.) guided the ThunderWolves with 16 points, five rebounds and four steals in his sixth start of the season.
The two teams traded buckets during the first eight minutes of the opening frame, until a Pack 6-0 run handed the road team a 15-11 lead with 11:34 remaining. The Griffins responded with a barrage of 3-pointers, as they hit from long range on three consecutive possessions to jump start a 12-0 run that had WC leading 23-15 with 8:31 left.
The ThunderWolves chipped their way back to within three at 28-25 with 3:58 remaining and were again down by a possession at 36-33 with a minute left on a Smith 3-pointer, but the Pack would trail by six at the break, 39-33.
CSU-Pueblo scored the first bucket of the second half, but lost the first 10:05 by a 25-11 margin and trailed at the midway point, 64-44. The Griffin lead went as large as 22 before the final score of 89-75.
The ThunderWolves return home Feb. 5-6 for a pair of RMAC contests that will air live on Comcast CET (105/900 HD). Friday's game against University of Colorado Colorado Springs is set for a 7:30 p.m. start and will be a RED OUT, as fans are encouraged to wear red to the game. The contest is also the CSU-Pueblo Athletic Director Honor Roll evening, which will recognize all Pack student-athletes with a 3.0 GPA or higher from the fall semester.
Saturday, CSU-Pueblo welcomes Metro State University of Denver for a 7:30 p.m. bout that features Take a Kid to a Game Night and Super Mascot Rocky of the Denver Nuggets. The weekend will also serve as CSU-Pueblo Faculty and Staff Appreciation and all members of the school's faculty and staff are welcome to enjoy the games for free (plus immediate family).
–30 –
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
