GUNNISON, Colo. (Feb. 19, 2021) – A late run by Western Colorado University erased a lead by the Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball team, as the Mountaineers won 86-81 in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game, Friday in Gunnison. 
 
After allowing 15 3-pointers against the Mountaineers (6-8, 6-7 RMAC) Tuesday, the Pack held WCU to five buckets from beyond the arc and limited the home team to shooting 49.2 percent from the field. The ThunderWolves (3-10, 3-10 RMAC) went 10-for-15 (66.7%) from long range and finished the game shooting 47.2 percent.
 
The score changed 11 times, while the contest was tied on 13 occasions.  
 
Freshman Lian Ramiro (G, Aurora, Colo.) led the Pack with a season-high 31 points on 10-of-13 (76.9%) shooting from the field. He hit an impressive six 3-pointers on six attempts and added five rebounds with two steals. 
 
Stat Leaders
 
Freshman Tristan Hurdle (G, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) added 14 points with four rebounds. He hit three from downtown. 
 
Off the bench, Eric Williams (R-Fr., G, Centennial, Colo.) posted 13 points with five rebounds. He went 7-of-8 (87.5%) from the free throw line. 
 
Junior guard David Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) added 10 points with three rebounds and two assists. 
 
Summary
 
After a back-and-forth start, the Pack built a six-point lead at 27-21 with 7:55 remaining in the first half. Western Colorado responded with a 6-0 run and the game was tied 27-27 with 5:22 showing on the game clock.
 
The teams then proceeded to trade buckets to the halftime buzzer, as the Mountaineers led 40-38. 
 
WCU had a lead as large as seven during the first 10 minutes of the second half and with 10:03 left had a 61-57 advantage. 
 
CSU Pueblo responded with a 5-0 stretch during the next two minutes of game time to own their first lead of the second half, 62-61. 
 
Again the contest turned into a seesaw match with the teams trading runs. A Ramiro jumper with 3:17 remaining had the Pack ahead 73-71. Unfortunately, the ThunderWolves got stuck on 73 due to missed shots and a couple turnovers and the home team capitalized with a 7-0 run that had the Mountaineers ahead 78-73 with only 1:47 remaining. 
 
A pair of Simental free throws with 41 seconds remaining got the Pack within one at 78-77, but the road team wouldn't be able to overcome the late drought in the 86-81 loss. 
 
Up Next
 
The Pack play Fort Lewis College Saturday at 6 p.m.  

-- PACK --