PUEBLO, Colo. (Dec. 14, 2019) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team suffered an 81-69 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference home loss to No. 9 Dixie State University, Saturday at Massari Arena.
 
The ThunderWolves (4-6, 2-2 RMAC) were ahead by one, 38-37, at the half against the undefeated Trailblazers (10-0, 5-0 RMAC), but DSU dominated the first 10 minutes of the second half to post the double-digit victory. 
 
The Pack shot 45.5 percent in the first half, but just 35.7 percent in the second half for a 41 percent shooting night. Dixie State knocked down 60.6 percent of its shots in the second half and finished the game with a 50.7 percentage. The lead changed on eight occasions and the score flipped five times throughout the game. CSU-Pueblo only had 11 turnovers, but the Trailblazers capitalized on them with 19 points, while the Pack had six points off 10 DSU giveaways. The ThunderWolves struggled from long range, going 5-for-21 (23.8%).
 
Senior guard Brandon McGhee (Oakland, Calif.) led a group of four players in double figures with 14 points. He was 5-for-8 (62.5%) from the field and added four rebounds and three assists. 
 
Guard David Simental (R-So., Pueblo West, Colo.) scored 12 points and chipped in four rebounds and three assists. 
 
Both senior Jason Anderson (C, Colorado Springs, Colo.) and freshman Jaedon Bowles (Aurora, Colo.) had 11 points. Anderson added five rebounds and was 4-of-5 (80%) from the field. Bowles scored his points off the bench and hit three, 3-pointers and brought down four rebounds. 
 
Junior Bryce Sanchious (F, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) had seven points and three blocks, while sophomore Tyson Gilbert (G, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) contributed seven points and a team-high seven rebounds.
 
Both teams brought high energy to the first half, as the lead changed five times and the score was tied on five more occasions. After the Pack jumped out to a 9-4 lead two minutes into the game, Dixie State slowly battled back and after taking the lead, built a 10-point advantage at 23-13 with 11:20 to go in the first half. 
 
CSU-Pueblo responded with a 9-0 run that cut the deficit to just one at 23-22 with 8:58 showing on the game clock. Three different players scored, while Bowles totaled the first five points to get things going. 
 
After trading buckets, a Bowles 3-pointer tied the game at 30-30 with 5:05 remaining in the half, then two free throws from McGhee had the Pack ahead for the first time since the first five minutes of the half. DSU led 36-34 with 2:14 left in the opening 20 minutes, but the Pack were able to keep them off the board the rest of the way and posted a 4-0 run to the halftime buzzer to lead, 38-37. 
 
McGhee had 10 points, four rebounds and two assists in the first half, while Bowles had eight points. 
 
With the ThunderWolves down just one at 43-42 three minutes into the second half, Dixie State ripped off a 13-1 run that broke the game open, 56-43 with 13:31 left in regulation. 
 
The Trailblazer lead would go as high as 16 and only came down to nine, as the national top 10 won, 81-69. 
 
Next up the Pack close the 2019 calendar year with a road test at New Mexico Highlands University, Dec. 18 at 7 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.