PUEBLO, Colo. (Nov. 20, 2021) – Seven members of the Pack scored in double-digits as the Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball team capped off the 2021 Al Kaly Shrine Classic with a 103-77 win over Bacone College.
 
The ThunderWolves took control of the game from the jump as Lian Ramiro (Fr., Aurora, Colo.) connected on a three early in the first half to give the Pack a 10-2 lead. Ramiro then hit his second 3-pointer of the contest with 15:58 remaining and forced the Warriors to take their first timeout.
 
The Pack were then able to extend their lead to as many as 27 points with 5:09 remaining in the half as Elijah Moleon (Jr., Killeen, Tex.) powered his way to the basketball to give the ThunderWolves a 40-13 advantage.
 
Great defense made it difficult for the Warriors to do anything offensively as they Pack walked into the break with a commanding 57-30 lead. The ThunderWolves held Bacone to 37.14% shooting after the Warriors went 13 for 35 from the field and connected on 1 of 14 from deep, all while shooting 21 for 30 and knocking down seven 3-pointers in the first half.
 
The second half was much like the first half where the ThunderWolves dominated almost every aspect of the game and were able to extend their lead to as many as 42 points as Tristan Hurdle (Fr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.) scored off a nice pass from Meekness Payne (Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.) with 12:08 left in the game.
 
In the final 12 minutes of the game, the Warriors made a little run at the Pack - connecting on 9 of their 12 3-pointers and scoring 40 points, but the deficit was just too much. The ThunderWolves scored 24 points of their own to walk away with a 103-77 win.
 
The ThunderWolves finished the night shooting 39 for 64 from the field which included 9 of 21 from deep and out rebounded the Warriors 44 to 24.
 
The dominating force on the block of Moleon and Thompson continued to control the game as the Warriors had no answer for the size difference the whole game. Moleon finished the night one rebound shy of a double-double with 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals while Thompson recorded his second double-double in as many games with 17 points and 14 rebounds (7 offensive).
 
Payne has now scored over 20 points in two consecutive games after putting up 20 points and 8 rebounds while Hurdle and Micah Lamberth (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) added 13 points apiece. Noble Robinson (Jr., Lubbock, Tex.) put in a solid 29 minutes for the Pack as the transfer notched 10 points and 3 rebounds.
 
The ThunderWolves will be back in action next weekend at home against Texas A&M International and Kansas Christian College for the 2021 Thanksgiving Classic. Both games tip off set for 7 pm.