PUEBLO, Colo. (Dec. 19, 2020) – The Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball team fell to No. 17 Colorado Mesa University Saturday at Massari Arena by the score of 76-67.  
 
The ThunderWolves (0-4, 0-4 RMAC) battled with the undefeated Mavericks (6-0, 6-0 RMAC) and with 4:02 remaining trailed by just one at 62-61. Unfortunately, the Pack couldn't find a way to close the game and CMU went on to claim the victory. 
 
CSU Pueblo finished the contest shooting 42.6 percent from the field and knocked down eight 3-pointers. The road team finished the game shooting 55.1 percent from the field, thanks mostly to high percentage shots that led to 46 points in the paint. The Mavericks went 20-for-27 from the free throw line for a 74.1 percentage. 
 
Guard Tre Brown (R-Jr., Tacoma, Wash.) again led the team in scoring with 20 points. 
 
Postgame Comments
 
"It comes down to getting stops," said CSU Pueblo Head Men's Basketball Coach Matt Hammer. "Late in the game you have to at least make them earn it and make them do some things they don't want to do. Their whole team is disciplined, patient and they move well with the ball and without the ball to make it hard to guard. I thought we did a good job taking away 3's from them. We have five games on film and we are going to show the players when they get back what we are talking about and they have to be ready to shoot and knock those shots down."
 
"A lot of shots didn't go our way, but our guys kept fighting and we kept playing as hard as we could," Brown said. "We have to do the little things down the stretch, including me. I need to hold myself accountable and do the little things, which are boxing out and keeping guys in front of me and everybody will follow suit."
 
Stat Leaders
 
Freshman Tristan Hurdle (G, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) totaled 13 points and brought down a team-high seven rebounds. 
 
Forward De'Shaun Cooper (Fr., Poway, Calif.) added 10 points on a 4-of-4 effort from the field and chipped in five rebounds. 
 
Off the bench, guard Lian Ramiro (Fr., Aurora, Colo.) totaled nine points and dished out a season-high seven assists. 
 
In 18 minutes of play, senior Bryce Sanchious (F, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) scored seven points and brought down four rebounds. 
 
Summary
 
The Pack struggled in the first 10 minutes, but kept the game within three possessions and would play better in the final 10 minutes of the first frame to tie the game on four occasions before facing just a three point deficit, 35-32, at the break. 
 
The Maverick lead was 11 at 50-39 with 12:41 to play, but the ThunderWolves won the next eight minutes and following a Cooper bucket on an assist from Ramiro, the home team trailed by just one at 62-61 with 4:02 showing on the game clock. 
 
Unfortunately, CMU rattled off a 7-0 run during the next minute of play and were up 69-61. The Pack got within six, but solid free throw shooting down the stretch and key buckets by the Mavericks sealed the 76-67 win. 
 
Up Next
 
The ThunderWolves will break for the holidays and return to action Jan. 2-3 in a road trip to Denver to battle Colorado Christian University and Metro State University of Denver, respectfully. Both contests are slated for a 4 p.m. start.  

-- PACK --