PUEBLO, Colo. (February 5, 2016) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team (12-9, 8-7 RMAC) returns home for a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games Feb. 5-6, as the ThunderWovles battle University of Colorado Colorado Springs (13-9, 10-5 RMAC) Friday and Metropolitan State University at Denver (13-8, 11-4 RMAC) Saturday. Both contests are scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tip. Both games are set to air live on Comcast CET (105/900 HD).
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS (RED OUT Friday, Take A Kid To A Game Night and the Denver Nuggets Super Mascot Rocky Saturday)
CSU-PUEBLO GAME NOTES
UCCS PREVIEW
MSU DENVER PREVIEW
LIVE STATS VS UCCS
LIVE STATS VS MSU DENVER
LIVE AUDIO (1350 Fox Sports Pueblo & iHeart App)
LIVE VIDEO
TELEVISION (Both games): Comcast CET, channel 105 or 900 HD for Colorado Xfinity subscribers
Starting Five
• CSU-Pueblo returns home after going 1-3 on an RMAC road trip. The Pack have lost three straight, shooting 45.3 percent (36.4% last 2 games) and allowing 56.7 percent in that span.
• The Pack lead the RMAC and rank sixth nationally in 3-point field goals made per game (11.0) and are seventh in the country in total 3-pointers made (232). Nine times the ThunderWolves have hit 12 or more 3-pointers this season.
• Junior center Nelson Kahler has compiled 43 blocks to lead the league and sit No. 25 nationally (2.1 bpg is 30th). The ThunderWolves are second in the league in the category with 64 rejections (3.3 bpg).
• Senior Chris Golden has hit 3.6 3-pointers per game this season to rank fifth nationally and first in the RMAC. His 68 made buckets from beyond the arc is 12th in Division II.
• CSU-Pueblo owns 83.6 points per game to lead the RMAC.
The ThunderWolves
After shooting 60-plus percent on back-to-back evenings last weekend, the ThunderWolves shot just 36.1 percent from the field in a 93-66 RMAC road loss to Colorado Mesa University Friday.
The ThunderWolves allowed Colorado Mesa (14-6, 10-4 RMAC) to shoot 50 percent from the floor in the game, while the 36.1 percent for the Pack was a season-low. CSU-Pueblo hit 10 3-pointers (10-of-35, 28.6%), which is below its 11.3 average this season (ranked sixth in NCAA Division II).
Three players were in double figures for the ThunderWolves, guided by 15 points from senior Odessa Lear. He added 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Junior center Nelson Kahler totaled 14 points and seven rebounds, while his two blocks added to his RMAC-best 43 rejections. Senior Chris Golden totaled 13 points.
CSU-Pueblo was down 40-31 at the break, but couldn't find a way to get back in the game in its worst loss of the season (27 points).
The next night, the Pack suffered its third straight loss, as poor shooting and a lack of defense equaled an 89-75 RMAC setback at newcomer Westminster College.
The ThunderWolves 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 guided the ThunderWolves with 16 points, five rebounds and four steals in his sixth start of the season.
CSU-Pueblo trailed by six at 39-33 at the have and then scored the first bucket of the second frame, 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 Mountain Lions
The Mountain Lions are 13-9 overall with a 10-5 mark in RMAC play, which is good for third in the Rocky Division and tied for fourth overall. UCCS has won five straight and during that stretch has outscored its opponent 86.6-72.8 (433-364). The Mountain Lions are the best shooing team in the RMAC, with a 50.3 percent clip from the field. UCCS also leads the league in rebounding margin at +8.1 and are tied for first with 17.1 assists per game.
The Roadrunners
The Roadrunners enter the weekend at 13-8 overall and 11-4 in the RMAC and have won four straight. MSU Denver is tied for the lead in the Rocky Division with Colorado Mesa and sits tied for second overall. The Roadrunners are 5-3 on the road this season with wins in three of their last four away from Denver. In the four game win streak, MSU Denver has outscored its opponent 83.3-70.5. (333-282). The Roadrunners have the best scoring defense in the league, allowing 67.2 points per game and own the second best turnover margin at +2.24.
Pack Points
• The ThunderWolves posted their fifth 100-point performance under fifth-year head coach
Ralph Turner Jan. 9 when they dropped 109 at home against Western New Mexico. The sixth came in a 115-113 loss at Colorado College Jan. 23.
• The Pack knocked down 18 3-pointers in the win against WNMU, which tied the program record, which was established against Colorado Christian, Jan. 22, 1999. The next game versus South Dakota Mines, CSU-Pueblo totaled 20 3-pointers to establish a new program record.
• The ThunderWolves can also defend from beyond the arc, as they rank fourth in the league in 3-point field goal defense (34.6% allowed).
• The team's 7.0 steals per game is second, while the Pack are third in the RMAC in free throw percentage (75.0%) and fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.1).
• The Pack are 2-1 against ranked opponents with wins against then-No. 11 Midwestern State (87-74) and then-No. 1 Tarleton State (87-84 OT).
• CSU-Pueblo has played in two overtime games this season and are 1-1 in those games.
• Senior guard Chris Golden is seventh in the RMAC with 16.9 points per game He owns an 88.5 percentage from the free-throw line this season to sit second in the RMAC.
• In addition to leading the league in blocks, Nelson Kahler's 58.1 percentage from the field is good for fifth in the conference, while he is tied for 11th in rebounding, as he is puling down 6.2 rebounds per contest.
• Odessa Lear is sixth in the league in rebounding with 7.0 boards per contest and T-11th in steals (1.2 spg).
• Gavin Ligget ranks sixth in the conference with a 45.5 percent mark from long range.
• Will Newman is tied for ninth in free throw percentage by shooting at a 83.1 percent clip. His 3.2 assists per game off the bench is tied for 10th.
• Syrus McDonald is tied for ninth in the conference in field goal percentage, as he is shooting 53.9 percent.
• Josh Smith is tied for 10th in steals with 1.3 takeaways per game.
• Two players have gathered three RMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors this season, as Lear was recognized Nov. 30 and Kahler picked up the award on back-to-back weeks Dec. 21 and Jan. 5.
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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.
