ALAMOSA, Colo. (Dec. 9, 2020) – The Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball team lost the season and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener, 83-76, at the hands of Adams State University, Friday in Alamosa, Colorado. 
 
The Pack (0-1, 0-1 RMAC) never led against the Grizzlies (2-0, 2-0 RMAC). CSU Pueblo rebounded from shooting just 25.9 percent from the field in the first half to hit on 60 percent of its shots in the second frame for a 43.9 percent effort. The home team shot 47.5 percent from the field and knocked down 17-of-22 from the free throw line.
 
The turning point in the contest was a 10-1 run by ASU to close the final 3:49 of the first half. 
 
Guard Tre Brown (R-Jr., Tacoma, Wash.) led the team in scoring with 21 points in his first game with the Pack. 
 
From Coach Hammer
 
"It was a great opportunity for our guys to get back on the floor after a long layoff," said CSU Pueblo Head Men's Basketball Coach Matt Hammer. "I'm excited for the potential this team has. You could tell one team on the floor had some games under their belt and it was the first game for the other team. We just looked uncomfortable from the start. The great thing about it is we have the opportunity to bounce back 24 hours later and play again. The best part is we are back to playing basketball and that is all we can ask for. We will come out with a better effort tomorrow and hopefully bring home a win back to Pueblo."
 
Welcome to the Pack
 
The top three scorers for the ThunderWolves were all making their debut with the red, white and blue. 
 
Brown, who was on the team last year, but redshirted, scored 21 points on 7-of-11 (63.6%) shooting from the field. He also led the team with five assists. He scored 19 of his points in the second half. 
 
Guard Alex Reed (Sr., Raleigh, N.C.) totaled 16 points and led the team with three steals in his first game as a member of the ThunderWolves. Reed is a transfer from The Citadel. 
 
Freshman guard Lian Ramiro (Aurora, Colo.) dropped 15 points and tied for the team lead with seven rebounds in his first collegiate game. 
 
Guard David Simental (R-Jr., Pueblo West, Colo.) added 12 points, four rebounds and two steals in 39 minutes of playing time. Simental was the team's leading scorer last year and returns to the court after missing the final four games of the season due to injury. 
 
Summary
 
The contest went back and forth to start and with 3:49 left in the half, a Brown layup moved the ThunderWolves within one at 24-23. The field goal would be the last of the half for the road team, as the Grizzlies rattled off a 10-1 run to close the opening 20 minutes to lead 34-24 at the break. Ramiro had eight points and three rebounds at the break, while Reed added seven points and two steals. 
 
CSU Pueblo trailed by as many as 14 at 52-38 with 13:22 left in the second half. The ThunderWolves didn't quit and rattled off a 9-0 run, which included six points from Brown, to cut the deficit to just five at 52-47 and 11:05 showing on the game clock. 
 
Adams State continued to counter any attempt of a ThunderWolves comeback, as the road team failed to get within five until a Reed layup with 14 seconds had the Pack down, 80-76. Unfortunately, ASU knocked down enough free throws down the stretch to put the game away with a final score of, 83-76. 
 
Up Next
 
The ThunderWolves remain on the road Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. RMAC contest at University of Colorado Colorado Springs (0-1, 0-1 RMAC). 

-- PACK --