DURANGO, Colo. (Feb. 20, 2021) – Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball lost a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference road game Saturday, 89-77, to Fort Lewis College.
 
There were six lead changes and on eight occasions, the contest was tied, but an offensive drought by the ThunderWolves (3-11, 3-11 RMAC) during the end of the first half and start of the second half was costly in the loss. 
 
Despite the slump, the Pack still shot 50 percent from the field, but the Skyhawks (6-7, 5-7 RMAC) finished the game shooting 62.5 from the field. CSU Pueblo lost the rebounding battle 35-22.
 
Junior guard David Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) led the team with 27 points. He shot 11-of-17 (64.7%) from the field.
 
Postgame Comments 
 
"I think the difference between this game and the last time we played them was that we were able to get to the free throw line," said CSU Pueblo Head Men's Basketball Coach Matt Hammer. "Our guards were able to break down their defense and get in the paint and either get layups or to the free throw line and we didn't get enough of that tonight."
 
"With all our freshmen, the more games they play the more they learn and the better they will be. You can see improvements from the beginning of the year to now. The best thing for our young guys is to get that real live experience and they are getting that right now. They are going to figure it out and it will be beautiful to watch when it happens."
 
Stat Leaders
 
Freshman Lian Ramiro (G, Aurora, Colo.) dropped 17 points and went 8-for-8 from the free throw line. He led the team with four assists and added three rebounds. 
 
Senior Bryce Sanchious (F, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) added nine points and led the team with four rebounds. 
 
Summary
 
After trading leads during the first quarter of the opening half, the ThunderWolves built a lead of eight at 30-22 with 9:09 showing on the game clock. During the run to open the large lead, Simental scored seven straight points for the Pack and had 14 points midway through the half. 
 
With 7:11 left, CSU Pueblo kept the pressure on and led by nine at 35-26 following a Micah Lamberth (Fr., G, Colorado Springs, Colo.) layup.
 
The Pack lead was seven at 42-35 after a freshman Tristan Hurdle (G, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) jumper and 4:25 left. It was all Skyhawks for the remainder of the half, as the home team posted a 12-2 run to own a 47-44 lead and only 22 seconds left in the frame. Ramiro was fouled on a 3-point attempt at the halftime buzzer and he hit all three from the charity stripe to tie the contest 47-47 going into the locker room. 
 
Ramiro knocked down a jumper for the first basket of the second half to hand the ThunderWolves a 49-47 lead, but it would be the last advantage for CSU Pueblo. 
 
The offensive woes carried over into the second half, as a 14-0 run by the Skyhawks broke open the contest, 61-49 with 14:30 left. The ThunderWolves never recovered from the slump in the 12-point conference loss. 
 
Up Next
 
The Pack head into the final week of the regular season with four games on the docket. To start it off, CSU Pueblo will host Black Hills State University Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. No fans will be allowed at Massari Arena. 
 
-- PACK --