PUEBLO, Colo. (Nov. 9, 2019) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team erased a 14-point second half deficit to defeat Midwestern State University, 69-64, at Massari Arena Saturday. The ThunderWolves moved to 2-0 on the season and went perfect in hosting the 36th Annual Al Kaly Shrine Classic. 
 
CSU-Pueblo led 32-29 at halftime, but a strong start to the second half by the Mustangs (0-2) lifted the road team to a 48-34 lead with 11:14 remaining in regulation. The Pack forced nine turnovers in the final 11 minutes and got the line to aid the comeback and would finish the game with 23 points off turnovers and 27 points from the charity stripe (27-of-35, 77.1%). 
 
Down 53-40 with 9:10 left, the Pack produced a 10-0 run to get within three. Three different players scored in the run with senior guard Brandon McGhee (Oakland, Calif.) scoring the final four points. 
 
The game was tied 55-55 on a guard David Simental (R-So., Pueblo West, Colo.) 3-pointer. The Mustangs scored on their ensuing possession, but a pair of free throws from freshman Jaedon Bowles (F, Aurora, Colo.) tied the game for the fifth and final time. With just under three minutes to go, Simental hit on two from the line to give the Pack lead for good at 59-57. A old fashioned three-point play by McGhee with 39 seconds left closed the door and gave the home team a 64-59 lead. Key free throws down the stretch sealed the deal in the 2-0 start for the ThunderWolves. 
 
The Pack overcame shooting 35.4 percent from the field and allowing 49.1 percent from the field by totaling 11 steals and winning the rebounding battle 35-26. The Pack hit eight 3-pointers, while the Mustangs had seven. 
 
Sophomore Tyson Gilbert (G, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) was the spark off the bench, as he totaled a game-high 17 points with three assists and two rebounds. He hit all five of his shots from the field and was a perfect 3-for-3 from long range, while going 4-for-6 from the line. 
 
The only starter in double figures was McGhee, as he had 13 points with four rebounds and three steals. Bowles added 11 points and three, 3-pointers off the bench. The bench totaled 29 points.
 
Junior Bryce Sanchious (F, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) had eight points and a team-high eight rebounds. Donovan Oldham (R-Sr., F, Colorado Springs, Colo.) added six points, six rebounds and four steals. 
 
The ThunderWolves have a weekend off before heading to the Dacotah Bank Classic, Nov. 22-23 in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

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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.