PUEBLO, Colo. (Feb. 6, 2020) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team remains on the road Feb. 7-8 for a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games in South Dakota. The ThunderWolves battle Black Hills State University Friday at 7:30 p.m. and meet South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Saturday at 6 p.m.
 
VERSUS THE OPPONENTS
 
• Just two weeks ago, the Pack defeated South Dakota Mines at home, 82-64. The ThunderWolves shot 56.9 percent from the field in that game. Guard David Simental had 23 points and hit four 3-pointers. CSU-Pueblo is 2-3 in the last five meetings with the Hardrockers. 
 
• The ThunderWolves lost 94-76 to the Yellow Jackets on Jan. 25. BHSU shot 62.3 percent from the field in the game. The Pack have lost five straight to the Yellow Jackets. 

THE PACK
 
• The ThunderWolves (9-12, 7-8 RMAC) are looking to snap a three-game losing streak after going 0-2 last weekend on the road. The Pack lost to Colorado School of Mines, 89-61, and University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 86-72. In the losing streak the ThunderWolves have allowed their opponent to shoot, on average, 57.0 percent from the field, while the Pack are shooting 43.3 percent during the same time.
 
• The Orediggers jumped out to a quick lead and never looked back, as the home team shot 50.7 percent from the field and 51.9 percent from 3-point land. The ThunderWolves were held to just 37.9 percent from the field. Mines hit 14 3-pointers, while the Pack had just six buckets from long range and only one of those came in the first half. Guard David Simental scored 17 points and shot 6-of-12 (50%) from the field. Center Jason Anderson had nine points and a team-high seven rebounds. Guard Tyson Gilbert had 10 points off the bench.
 
• For the third game in a row the ThunderWolves ran into a hot shooting team and couldn't match the output. The Mountain Lions shot 58.6 percent from the field, while the Pack were held to 40.7 percent. CSU-Pueblo did find success from the free throw line and went 18-for-22 (81.8%). Forward Bryce Sanchious was a bright spot for the Pack, as he totaled 25 points, which included a 12-for-13 (92.3%) effort from the free throw line. He also had nine rebounds with four of them coming on the offensive glass. Gilbert chipped in 16 points on 7-of-9 (77.8%) shooting from the field.  
 
• David Simental was named RMAC Offensive Player of the Week Dec. 9 after the first weekend of RMAC play. He averaged 30 points per game, shot 56.1 percent from the field (23-of-41) and 50 percent from long range, as he went 8-for-16. He was 6-for-8 (75%) from the free throw line. The 42 points in an overtime loss at Fort Lewis is the fifth most in program history, the most by an RMAC player this season and is top 20 in NCAA Division II in 2019-20.
 
• Six different players are scoring at least 8.9 points per game and four different players have 4.3 or more rebounds per contest. 

• Redshirt-sophomore guard David Simental leads the team with 16.3 points per game to rank T-8th in the RMAC. His 18.1 points per conference game is 5th. He is the only player to have started each of the 21 contests. He is 89-for-100 from the free throw line for an 89.0 percentage that ranks 1st in the RMAC and T-19th in NCAA Division II. His 33.5 minutes per game ranks 3rd in the league. 
 
• Senior guard Brandon McGhee adds 11.7 points per game and is shooting 51.0 percent from the field to rank 11th in the RMAC. He leads the team with 4.3 assists per game that is T-4th in the RMAC. He adds 4.3 rebounds per contest. His 1.7 assist/turnover ratio is T-5th in the conference. McGhee's 21 steals is a team-high.
 
• Junior forward Bryce Sanchious owns 10.7 points per game and has pulled down 5.5 rebounds per contest to sit second on the team. The junior also leads the team with 18 blocks, as his 0.9 blocks per game average ranks T-8th in the RMAC. He recorded back-to-back double-doubles the first RMAC weekend at Adams State (10 points, 13 rebounds) and Fort Lewis (17 points, 10 rebounds). 

• Sophomore guard Tyson Gilbert has started eight games and leads the team with 38 3-pointers with a 46.3 percentage from long range. He is averaging 10.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. He knocked down six 3-pointers Dec. 18 in a road loss to New Mexico Highlands.
 
• Senior center Jason Anderson owns 9.5 points and a team-high 5.6 rebounds per game. He has a 61.9 percentage from the field this season. Anderson has two double-doubles on the year. 
  
• Freshman forward Jaedon Bowles has produced 8.9 points per game. He is second on the squad with 34 3-pointers.
  
• Senior forward Donovan Oldham adds 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds with 31 3-pointers. He currently sits at 974 points for his career. 
 
• The Pack average 77.1 points per game to rank T-6th in the RMAC and allow 79.5 points per contest for 11th in the conference. 
 
• The team is shooting 47.4 percent from the field to rank 6th in the RMAC. The team's 75.2 percent effort from the free throw line is 5th in the conference. 

• CSU-Pueblo ranks 4th in the league in blocks with 3.4 swats per game. 

THE YELLOW JACKETS

• The Yellow Jackets are riding a 13-game win streak into the weekend. BHSU has a 16-5 overall record with a 13-2 mark in league play to sit alone at the top of the conference. Black Hills State is 9-2 at home with nine straight victories and their last loss coming on Nov. 16. Last weekend the Yellow Jackets went on the road and dispatched Chadron State College, 97-74, and Metro State University of Denver, 83-69. 
 
• BHSU is T-2nd in the league in scoring margin at +7.1. 
 
• The Yellow Jackets are first in the RMAC in field goal percentage (51.8%), 3rd in rebounding margin (+4.9) and 5th in field goal percentage defense (44%). 
 
• Stott Joel ranks 4th in the RMAC with 18.1 points per game and leads the league with a 61.9 percentage from the field. He also adds 6.0 rebounds per game. 
 
• Tyler Oliver has pulled down 7.9 rebounds per game to rank 2nd in the RMAC. His 4.3 assists per contest is good for T-4th, while his 1.8 steals per game ranks T-5th. He adds 14.2 points per game.
 
• Trey Whitley averages 13.9 points per game, while his 88.1 percent effort from the free throw line is 2nd in the league. 
 
• Stefan Desnica adds 11.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Anthony Capley is T-8th in blocks per game at 0.9. 

THE HARDROCKERS

• The Hardrockers are 11-10 overall and 8-7 in league play. The squad has a 6-1 home record this season and have won five straight on their home court. SDM&T won twice on the road last weekend with victories against MSU Denver (80-51) and Chadron State (88-77).  
 
• South Dakota Mines averages 75.8 points per game (9th), but allows 69.2 points per game to rank 2nd in the RMAC.
 
• The Hardrockers are 3rd in the conference in 3-point percentage (40.4%), 4th in assist/turnover ratio (1.13), 5th in field goal percentage (48.3%) and 5th in rebounding margin (+3.1). 
 
• Alec Williams leads the team with 15.2 pointes per game and adds 4.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. 
 
• Mitchell Sueker has 13.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. 
 
• Logan Elers owns 11.0 points per game and has a 59.5 field goal percent to rank 3rd in the conference.  
 
• Jack Fiddler leads the RMAC with a 52.3 percent effort from long range. He has a team-high 43 3-pointers and averages 9.4 points per game. 
 
NEXT UP
 
• The ThunderWolves return home Feb. 14-15 to welcome UCCS and Mines. Both games are scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start. 
 
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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.