PUEBLO, Colo. (Dec. 18, 2020) – A slow start by the Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball team proved costly again in a 60-56 home loss to Westminster College at Massari Arena.  
 
The ThunderWolves (0-3, 0-3 RMAC) struggled on offense in the first half and only produced 16 points, but kept the Griffins (3-2, 3-2 RMAC) in check with just 27 points. For the third time this season, the Pack won the second half (40-33), but it wouldn't be enough to find a victory. 
 
CSU Pueblo shot 29 percent from the field in the first half, but knocked down 52 percent in the second frame to finish the game hitting on 41.2 percent of its shots. WC shot 41 percent from the field and knocked down only two 3-pointers. Eighteen turnovers by the home team were also detrimental, as the Griffins capitalized with 11 points off those miscues. 
 
Guard Tre Brown (R-Jr., Tacoma, Wash.) led all scorers with 21 points. Freshman Tristan Hurdle (G, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) came alive in the second half and knocked down three from long range. He finished with 11 points and added a team-high three assists.
 
The Griffins had three players score 10 points and two more added eight points to guide them to a balanced attack on offense.  
 
Postgame Comments
 
"I thought the first half we just relied on shooting jumpers," said CSU Pueblo Head Men's Basketball Coach Matt Hammer. "To get off to a better start, we have to get the ball going to the rim. We had three free throw attempts in the first half and when the jumpers aren't falling, we need to find other ways to score and that usually comes from getting the ball and taking it to the paint. We love the 3, but you get open in rhythm 3's by getting to the rim and drawing the defense in and then kicking it out and finding guys. The most proficient shot in basketball is the free throw and we need to find a way to get to the line."
 
"I think it all starts with the first half," Hurdle said. "We came out to a slow start and that changed the whole game. It started out slow for me, but I just have to keep shooting because that is what I do. My teammates have confidence in me and that is the one thing I need to do."
 
Stat Leaders
 
Brown was 7-for-13 (53.8%) from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the line. He added three rebounds and two assists.
 
Forward De'Shaun Cooper (Fr., Poway, Calif.) totaled nine points on a 3-for-3 effort from the field. He tied with freshman Alex Gager (F, London, England) for the lead in rebounds with five and added a block. 
 
Summary
 
After trailing 27-16 at the break, the Pack kept the game in reach during the first 10 minutes of the second half, as they trailed 42-33 with 9:48 remaining in regulation.
 
Then, a 15-5 run during the next 4:40 of game time by the ThunderWolves produced a 48-47 lead. The advantage was their first of the game since scoring the first bucket of the contest. The stretch was jump started by two Hurdle 3-pointers and capped by a three-point play by Cooper. 
 
The lead lasted just 15 seconds, as a 4-0 run by the Griffins had the road team back on top. CSU Pueblo was within one point on four occasions the rest of the way and trailed 57-56 with 55 seconds left. The Pack got a stop on the defensive end and had an opportunity to take the lead, but couldn't convert. Made free throws by Westminster down the stretch and missed buckets by the Pack resulted in the 60-56 setback. 
 
Up Next
 
The ThunderWolves welcome No. 17 Colorado Mesa University Saturday beginning at 7:30 p.m.

-- PACK --