PUEBLO, Colo. (Jan. 17, 2020) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team fell 65-61 in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference home game Friday against Metro State University of Denver. The ThunderWolves trailed by 15 at halftime, but flipped the script in the second half to give themselves a chance. 
 
The Pack (7-9, 5-5 RMAC) never led in the contest, as the Roadrunners (9-7, 5-5 RMAC) jumped out to an 11-point lead in the first seven minutes. The ThunderWolves got as close as eight before trailing by 15 at the break, 43-28. 
 
CSU-Pueblo took the first five minutes of the second half to post a 12-4 run and get within seven at 47-40. Down 11 at 55-44 with 10 minutes remaining, the home team rattled off a 12-3 stretch to get within one possession at 56-54 and 6:38 left in regulation. 
 
After trading buckets for the next 5:30, CSU-Pueblo had the ball with 27 ticks left and were trailing by just one at 62-61. After a timeout, senior Brandon McGhee (G, Oakland, Calif.), who led the team with 18 points, drove the lane, but his shot rolled around the rim and out. He collected his own rebound and had another look, but that didn't fall and MSU Denver came down with the rebound. 
 
Two Roadrunner free throws made it a three-point game and the Pack had another shot with nine seconds, left, but the ball didn't fall and the Roadrunners would escape with the 65-61 victory. 
 
CSU-Pueblo had its second worst shooting night of the season, hitting on just 36.2 percent of their shots. The Pack struggled from beyond the arc with a season-worst 15.8 percent (3-of-19). 
 
MSU Denver recorded a 53.3 percentage from the field and went 7-for-11 (63.6%) from long range in the first half, but the ThunderWolves held the road team to just 25.9 percent from the field and 2-of-8 (25%) from 3-point land in the second half to allow the Roadrunners to post a 40.9 percentage from the field. 
 
The Pack took care of the ball and recorded a season-low five turnovers. The home team edged the Roadrunners with a 38-37 advantage on the glass and won the ThunderWolves won the paint, 36-20. CSU-Pueblo had six blocks with three from Donovan Oldham (R-Sr., F, Colorado Springs, Colo.)
 
McGhee shot 58.3 percent from the field and went 4-of-5 (80%) from the line to reach 18 points. He also added nine rebounds and a team-high four assists. 
 
Senior Jason Anderson (C, Colorado Springs, Colo.) was the only other Pack player in double figures. He recorded his second double-double this season with 11 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. He had nine of his 11 points and rebounds in the second half and helped jumpstart the team in the second frame. 
 
The Pack look to rebound Saturday with a home game against Chadron State College beginning at 7:30 p.m. It is Take A Kid To A Game Night and Denver Nuggets Super Mascot Rocky returns to Massari Arena. All kids 17 and under are free. 

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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.