PUEBLO, Colo. (Jan. 24, 2020) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team posted an important 82-64 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win Friday versus visiting South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. 
 
With both teams entering the game with the same 6-5 RMAC record, the ThunderWolves (9-9, 7-5 RMAC) were able to take the game against the Hardrockers (9-9, 6-6 RMAC) and move up in middle section of the congested league standings. 
 
South Dakota Mines came into the contest second in the conference in scoring defense with 67.9 points per game allowed, but the Pack were able to shoot 56.9 percent from the field and hit nine 3-pointers to collect 82 points, the most allowed by SDM&T this season. 
 
CSU-Pueblo shot the rock well from all over the floor with a 50 percent effort from beyond the arc and an 88.2 percentage from the free throw line. The ThunderWolves won the rebounding margin 35-27 and overcame allowing 50 points in the paint, 23 points off turnovers and 13 second chance points by the Hardrockers. The home team held the lead for 38:25 of game clock.
 
After a couple games not producing offensively to his averages this season, guard David Simental (R-So., Pueblo West, Colo.) returned to form with a game-high 23 points on 6-of-11 (54.5) shooting from the field and a 4-for-6 (66.7) effort from 3-point land. He added five rebounds. 
 
Junior Bryce Sanchious (F, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) provided a spark off the bench, as the ThunderWolves outscored the Hardrockers 31-16 in bench points. He totaled 16 points, but also brought down seven rebounds in just 18 minutes played. He went 7-for-10 (70%) from the field and knocked down two of his three 3-point attempts. 
 
Sophomore Tyson Gilbert (G, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) was also in double figures off the bench with 11 points. 
 
Senior Jason Anderson (C, Colorado Springs, Colo.) didn't miss from the field, 4-for-4, or the free throw line, 2-for-2, for 10 points and brought down a game-high eight rebounds. 
 
Both teams started slow, as the score was 4-2 in favor of the Pack five minutes into the contest. The teams traded buckets to a tied game, 13-13, midway through the first half. CSU-Pueblo then posted a 7-0 run with five points from Simental to open up the 20-13 lead. The Hardrockers would get within three twice during the rest of the frame, before the ThunderWolves were able to take a seven-point lead, 38-31, at the break. 
 
CSU-Pueblo scored the first five points of the second half and would match any mini run the Hardrockers could produce. South Dakota Mines would only get as close as nine during the final 20 minutes, as the Pack stretched their advantage to 18 by the final buzzer, 82-64. 
 
The ThunderWolves will look to stop a 10-game winning streak by the visitors of Massari Arena Saturday, as Black Hills State University (13-5, 10-2 RMAC) comes to town for a 7:30 p.m. contest. 
 
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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.