PUEBLO, Colo. (Feb. 16, 2021) – The Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball team suffered a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference loss Tuesday, 107-82, to Western Colorado University.
 
The Mountaineers (5-8, 5-7 RMAC) shot 63.6 percent from the field and knocked down 15 3-pointers (15-of-30, 50%). The ThunderWolves (3-9, 3-9 RMAC) shot 47.6 percent in the game. 
 
The Pack had 49 points off the bench, led by the team's scoring leader, Bryce Sanchious (Sr., F, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). The senior produced a double-double with 24 points on 11-of-12 (91.7%) shooting from the field and 12 rebounds. He was one point and one rebound shy of his career-highs with the ThunderWolves. 
 
Postgame Comment
 
"We have to get back to our defensive fundamentals," said CSU Pueblo Head Men's Basketball Coach Matt Hammer. "We have to strip it down to the nuts and the bolts to get back to the basics. With a young ball club like this, I feel like they are trying to learn and listen to see what they can do better. I'm excited to see how these guys bounce back. We have a lot to learn, but I feel like we have the right guys in place to do it."
 
"We have to focus more on the defensive side," Sanchious said. "There were guys on the other team getting hot and we didn't have an answer for them."
 
Stat Leaders
 
Also off the bench, Eric Williams (R-Fr., G, Centennial, Colo.) added 13 points. Senior Alex Reed (G, Raleigh, N.C.) scored 12 points and added three rebounds. 
 
In his first career start, freshman Micah Lamberth (G, Colorado Springs, Colo.) had five points, brought down three rebounds and dished out three assists. 
 
Summary
 
The ThunderWolves' only lead came when they scored the first basket of game to go up 2-0. The Mountaineers came down and hit their first of 15 3-pointers to take a lead it wouldn't relinquish. WCU was up eight at 16-8 with 14:21 left, but the Pack were able to cut the deficit to three at 24-21 with 10:55 showing on the clock.  
 
The Mountaineers' lead was between four and eight during the rest of the half before settling at 55-48 at the break. WCU shot 63 percent from the field and hit 10 3-pointers in the opening 20 minutes. 
 
Western Colorado pushed their lead to double-digits early in the second half, but the ThunderWolves hung around and trailed by seven at 71-64 with 12:44 left in regulation. The Mountaineers responded immediately and was off to the races, en route to the league victory. 
 
Up Next
 
The Pack now head to Gunnison, Colo. Friday to play Western Colorado at their house. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CSU Pueblo then plays Fort Lewis College Saturday at 6 p.m.  

-- PACK --