DENVER (Feb. 15, 2021) – The Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball team lost a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference road game Monday to Metro State University of Denver by the score of 108-71. 
 
The Roadrunners (8-6, 8-5 RMAC) shot 68.8 percent from the field and hit nine of their 16 3-pointers in the first half and then finished the game shooting 57.1 percent from the field. The ThunderWolves (3-8, 3-8 RMAC) shot 40 percent in the game. MSU Denver won the rebounding battle 43-30. The Pack had 18 turnovers that turned into 20 points off those miscues for the home team. 
 
Guard David Simental (R-Jr., Pueblo West, Colo.) led the team with 15 points, seven assists and five rebounds. 
 
Postgame Comment
 
"It starts on the defensive end and it starts with a mindset and we don't have that mindset right now," said CSU Pueblo Head Men's Basketball Coach Matt Hammer. "A lot of it comes from the coaching staff and what we need to emphasize more and what's important to us as a staff and as a program. I know from here on out what little amount of practice that we have left will be focused on the defensive end."
 
"We talk a lot to the guys that the game of basketball can humble you and humble you in a hurry. Just when you think you are pretty good and you start to figure some things out, you have a night like tonight."
 
Stat Leaders
 
Lian Ramiro (Fr., G, Aurora, Colo.) contributed 10 points and five rebounds. 
 
Off the bench, forward Jaedon Bowles (So., Aurora, Colo.) totaled 13 points and four rebounds, while Eric Williams (R-Fr., G, Centennial, Colo.) added 10 points. 
 
Freshman Gus Wright (F, Sheridan, Wyo.) played in 14 minutes and scored nine points with five rebounds.  
 
Summary
 
The ThunderWolves started the game knocking down shots and following a 3-pointer by Ramiro, the road team led 11-8 three minutes into the contest. Unfortunately, that would be the last bucket for the Pack for more than five minutes of game time and during that stretch the Roadrunners produced a 16-0 run to give them a 24-11 lead. 
 
A Bowles 3-pointer stopped the run, but only momentarily, as the home team continued to shoot lights out and led 31-14 with 10:22 remaining in the opening half. The ThunderWolves were able to cut the deficit to 12 on a pair of occasions, but the Roadrunners would hold a 58-37 advantage at the half. 
 
CSU Pueblo would score the first basket of the second half to trail by 19, but that would be as close as the ThunderWolves would get in the loss. 
 
Up Next
 
The Pack have an opportunity to bounce back at home Tuesday when Western Colorado University (4-8, 4-7 RMAC) visits Massari Arena for a 6 p.m. tip-off. No fans will be allowed.  

-- PACK --