PUEBLO, Colo. (Nov. 16, 2018) –The Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team lost 92-66 to Midwestern State University in the home opener Friday at the 35th Annual Al Kaly Shrine Classic at Massari Arena. 

MSU Texas caught fire in the second half and shot 66.7 percent from the field and knocked down 5-of-6 (83.3%) from long range to post 59 points. The Mustangs (2-1) finished the contest shooting 51.3 percent, while the ThunderWolves (1-2) hit 37.7 percent of their shots. MSU Texas won the paint with 52 points. 

After starting off slow and hitting 2-of-8 from long range in the first half, the Pack recovered in the second with a 7-for-9 performance. CSU-Pueblo would finish shooting 52.9 percent from beyond the arc. 

Senior Gavin Liggett (Limon, Colo.) led 3-point shooting efforts with a 4-for-8 (50%) performance. He added a 3-for-3 showing from the charity stripe to finish with 15 points. 

The ThunderWolves' leading scorer came off the bench, as freshman Cade Carrol (G/F, Buena Vista, Colo.) totaled 17 points and added a team-high six rebounds. He was 6-for-12 (50%) from the field and knocked down 3-of-4 (75%) from long range. 

MSU Texas jumped out to an 8-0 lead and went on to never trail in the game. CSU-Pueblo got their first bucket with 3:18 into the contest on a Jason Anderson (R-Jr., C, Colorado Springs, Colo.) layup. 

With 6:59 left in the opener half a Tyson Gilbert (Fr., G, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) free throw cut the deficit to just three at 21-18, but the Mustangs would respond with an 8-0 run to open up an 11-point advantage. 

CSU-Pueblo went on to win the final 4:50 8-4, but would still trail by seven at the break, 33-26. 

The teams traded buckets during the first 10 minutes of the second half, as the Pack just couldn't get the deficit below nine points. The Mustang lead was nine at 63-54 following a Harvey Barr (Jr., C, Southampton, England, UK) dunk with 9:05 left in regulation.  

MSU Texas responded with a 9-1 run during the next three minutes of play to break open a 17-point lead, 72-55 that the ThunderWolves just couldn't come back from. 

The Pack will close the weekend playing Wayland Baptist University at 7 p.m. Saturday at Massari Arena. 

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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.