PUEBLO, Colo. (March 1, 2019) - In his final collegiate game, senior Gavin Liggett (G, Limon, Colo.) of the Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team scored 14 points and hit four 3-pointers, as the ThunderWolves' season came to an end Friday at Massari Arena against New Mexico Highlands University.

Playing in his 110th game for the red, white and blue, Liggett finished his career with 193 3-pointers and scored 704 points. He ranks top 10 all-time in 3-pointers made. 

The ThunderWolves lost 88-82 to close the season with a 6-22 overall record and a 4-18 mark in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The win total was the lowest in program history since becoming a four-year institution in 1963. Following the game, CSU-Pueblo Head Men's Basketball Coach Ralph Turner stepped down from his position. 

The Pack hit 12 3-pointers in the loss, as six different players recorded a bucket from downtown. The ThunderWolves shot 44.4 percent from the field, while the Cowboys (19-9, 14-8 RMAC) shot 50.8 percent from the field. The Pack went 14-for-16 (87.5%) from the free throw line, while NMHU hit on 76 percent from the line, but had more opportunities, going 19-for-25. The Cowboys' constant full-court pressure forced CSU-Pueblo into 18 turnovers, which allowed the road team to compile 24 points off turnovers. NMHU won the rebounding battle 39-32. Both teams had 13 assists. 

The ThunderWolves got 39 points from their bench, led by the team's top scorer, guard BJ Hardy's (R-So., Colorado Springs, Colo.) 17 points in 21 minutes. Sophomore Corey Seng (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) added 10 points, five rebounds and three steals off the bench.

Starting point guard Tyson Gilbert (Fr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.) scored 15 points on 62.5 percent shooting from the field and added four assists with three rebounds. Liggett shot 50 percent from the field and added two rebounds, two assists and a steal in his final 28 minutes. 

Neither team held more than a two possession lead in the first half, as the first 20 minutes saw eight lead changes and three ties. The Pack owned a four point advantage at 17-13 with 9:06 remaining in the first half following a Gilbert 3-pointer. A 5-0 run by the Cowboys handed the road team their first lead since the opening minute of the game at 18-17. 

NMHU would lead by six at 34-28 with 2:47 showing on the first half game clock, but the Pack would make sure to stay close before the end of the half and trail by five, 38-33. 

New Mexico Highlands dominated the first six minutes of the second frame, as it's lead was built up to 16 at 53-37 with 13:52 remaining. A 3-pointer by Hardy jump started an 11-0 run that saw the Pack get within five at 53-48 with 12:10 left. Hardy totaled eight points in the stretch, while Seng had the other three. 

The Cowboys re-built their lead back to 10 at the midway point of the half, but CSU-Pueblo responded again and a Gilbert 3-pointer had the Pack within one possession at 71-68 with 4:37 remaining. 

The see-saw match continued, as NMHU were ahead by nine, 80-71 with 2:39 remaining, but another Hardy 3-pointer with 1:16 left capped a 7-1 run and the deficit was back to three at 81-78. Unfortunately, the Cowboys were able to execute slightly better than the ThunderWolves down the stretch to hold the advantage and win by six. 

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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.