DURANGO, Colo. (Dec. 7, 2019) – Colorado State University-Pueblo guard David Simental (R-So., Pueblo West, Colo.) recorded 42 points for the men's basketball team Saturday, but his individual effort proved not enough, as the ThunderWolves lost 98-95 in overtime at Fort Lewis College 
 
His performance ranks fifth all-time in CSU-Pueblo history with all the other performances occurring in 1997 or earlier. His 42 points is the most since Chris Golden posted 39 on Jan. 23, 2016. 
 
The ThunderWolves (3-5, 1-1 RMAC) were up by one at the half and down by as many as 16 in the second half before battling back to force overtime in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference thriller. The game was tied on 11 occasions and the lead changed 11 more times. 
 
The Pack finished the game shooting 47.9 percent from the field, while the Skyhawks (7-1, 1-1 RMAC) shot 47.8 percent. Both teams hit 10 3-pointers in the game, while the home team hit five more free throws on four more attempts. Fort Lewis had the slight edge in rebounding, 41-38, while both teams had 13 offensive boards. Each squad committed 11 turnovers. 
 
Simental went 15-for-27 (55.6%) from the field, 6-for-12 (50%) from 3-point land and 6-for-8 (75%) from the free throw line. He added four rebounds and a steal in 45 minutes. He had 19 points in the first half, 18 points in the second half and five points in overtime. 
 
Junior Bryce Sanchious (F, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) recorded his second straight double-double, as he produced 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. 
 
Senior Jason Anderson (C, Colorado Springs, Colo.) added 12 points on 6-of-7 (85.7%) shooting with four rebounds. 
 
Guards Brandon McGhee (Sr., Oakland, Calif.) and Tyson Gilbert (So. Highlands Ranch, Colo.) each totaled 10 points and recorded three field goals. McGhee added eight assists and seven rebounds with a steal. Gilbert had three rebounds, two assists and a steal.  
 
Both teams started hot, but it was the ThunderWolves who scored on their first seven possessions to help guide the road team to a 17-13 lead five minutes into the contest. Anderson scored all eight of his first half points in the opening five minutes. 
 
At the midway point the Pack led 23-18, thanks to a Gilbert 3-pointer. FLC responded and tied the game 23-23 and then extended its 15-3 run to open a 33-26 advantage with 6:26 showing on the game clock. 
 
CSU-Pueblo bounced back and used a 7-0 run to knot the game at 33-33. Down 38-33 with 2:08 remaining in the half, Simental scored six points to lead an 8-3 run into halftime to give the ThunderWolves a 41-40 lead. 
 
The Pack knocked down a 3-pointer on their first possession of the second half, but the Skyhawks got hot and led 70-54 with 9:33 left in regulation. 
 
CSU-Pueblo didn't quit and during the next 2:24 recorded a 14-0 run to cut the deficit to just two at 70-68. The run was guided by 11 points from Simental and eight fast break points. 
 
Fort Lewis maintained the lead until Sanchious converted two free throws to tie the game 78-78 with 2:24 remaining in regulation. A Skyhawk 3-pointer on the next possession regained the lead for the home team, which they kept until senior Donovan Oldham (R-Sr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) knocked down a free throw to tie the game with 21 ticks left. FLC failed to get a shot off in the final 21 seconds and the teams went to overtime. 
 
The Pack couldn't find a bucket for the first half of the overtime session, but a jumper by Gilbert with 2:28 left had the ThunderWolves only down one at 89-88. A Simental free throw with 1:41 remaining tied the game 89-89, but FLC came back and hit a 3-pointer. 
 
Missed chances on the offensive end forced the Pack to play the foul game and with 27 seconds left trailed by two possessions at 93-89. McGhee quickly went down the floor and converted on a layup off his own missed shot to cut the deficit to two at 93-91. The Skyhawks made both their free throws, but a Simental 3-pointer to push him past the 40 point mark on the night cut the deficit to just one at 95-94 with six ticks left. 
 
On the other end, Fort Lewis hit just one of two free throws to give the ThunderWolves some light with four seconds remaining. Simental hustled down the floor and was fouled with a second and a half left on the clock. He went to the line for two shots, but the RMAC's free throw percentage leader entering the weekend missed the front end of his two shots. He hit the second one and the Pack were down one at 96-95. 
 
The Skyhawks again converted on both from the charity stripe with less than a second remaining. A desperation three-fourths court shot from McGhee as time expired bounced off the rim and the ThunderWolves suffered the overtime loss, 98-95. 
 
The ThunderWolves return home after over a month on the road to battle Westminster College Dec. 13 and Dixie State University Dec. 14. Both contests are set 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.