LAS VEGAS, N.M. (Dec. 18, 2019) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team shot 53.6 percent from the field and scored 105 points, but lost 111-105 at New Mexico Highlands University Wednesday in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference road game to close the calendar year.
 
The Cowboys (7-2, 3-2 RMAC) entered the game as the league's top scoring team and ranked eighth in Division II with 93.6 points per game. The home team knocked down 55.6 percent of their shots and hit 13 3-pointers. The ThunderWolves (4-7, 2-3 RMAC) scored 64 points in the second half to win the final 20 minutes 64-53, but a lapse in the final 10 minutes of the first half put them in a hole they couldn't get out of. CSU-Pueblo shot 53.6 percent from the field and also hit 13 from long range (13-for-26, 50%). 
 
The Pack won the rebounding battle 40-32 with 14 offensive boards. NMHU totaled 48 points in the paint and 21 fast-break points. Both teams dished out 16 assists. 
 
Guard David Simental (R-So., Pueblo West, Colo.) recorded his second 30-plus point performance of the season, as he dropped 30 points on 12-of-20 (60%) shooting from the field. He is averaging 25 points per game in the five RMAC games. 
 
Sophomore Tyson Gilbert (G, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) produced a season-high 22 points with a career-high six 3-pointers (6-of-7, 85.7%) and an 8-for-12 (66.7%) effort from the field. He added six rebounds with two assists and two steals. 
 
Senior Jason Anderson (C, Colorado Springs, Colo.) produced a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. 
 
Senior forward Donovan Oldham added 13 points with three buckets from long range. Senior guard Brandon McGhee (Oakland, Calif.) added 10 points and a game-high seven assists with four rebounds and three steals. 
 
In the game's first 10 minutes there were nine lead changes and on three occasions the contest was tied. The Pack got down 14-6 just 3:39 into the contest, but battled back and used a 10-0 run to take the 16-14 lead with 14:41 showing on the game clock. Gilbert hit two daggers from downtown to get things going.
 
A Simental jumper with 13:25 left in the half increased the Pack's lead to four at 20-16, but would prove to be the largest of the game for the road team. 
 
CSU-Pueblo's last lead came at 27-26 with 10:50 remaining in the opening half, as a quick 4-0 run by NMHU gave them the 30-27 advantage. Simental knocked down a jumper to cut the deficit to one, but the ThunderWolves would remain stuck on 29 points for the next 4:34 of game clock. During the drought the Cowboys built a 14-point lead at 43-29. 
 
The Highlands lead reached 19 before settling at 17, 58-41, at the half.
 
New Mexico Highlands' lead hit a max of 23 during the second half at 98-75 with 7:17 remaining in regulation. Down 20 at 102-82 with 5:18 left the Pack didn't go quietly into break, but battled back and were within six at 104-98 with 1:08 showing. CSU-Pueblo played the foul game for the final minute, but the deficit proved to be too much to overcome in the six-point loss, 111-105. 
  
The ThunderWolves will break for the holidays and return Jan. 3-4 for a home weekend against Colorado Christian University (1-9, 1-3 RMAC) and Regis University (7-3, 2-2 RMAC). The Pack will ring in the New Year by unveiling a brand new video board, sound system and LED display scoring tables. Both contests are scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start. 

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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.