DENVER (Feb. 24, 2021) – The Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball team lost its final road game of the season Wednesday with an 80-69 setback at Regis University. 
 
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game was a tale of two halves, as the ThunderWolves (3-13, 3-13 RMAC) led 34-27 at the half, but gave up 53 points in the second to suffer the defeat. 
 
CSU Pueblo shot 57.7 percent from the field in the first half, but would finish the evening shooting 50 percent. The Rangers (5-9, 5-9 RMAC) shot 42.9 percent in the first half, but in the final 20 minutes produced a 70.8 percentage that equated to a 55.8 field goal percentage for the game. 
 
Junior guard David Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) led the team with 23 points, as he played all 40 minutes and committed just one turnover. He also dished out three assists. 
 
Postgame Comments 
 
"When you hold a team to 27 points in the first half and then you come out and give up 53 in the second, it was definitely a tale of two halves," said CSU Pueblo Head Men's Basketball Coach Matt Hammer. "The big thing we stressed was we couldn't beat ourselves. Offensively we can't turn it over and take bad shots, then defensively don't get caught sleeping on the back cut and close out. Now we need to bounce back on Friday." 
 
Stat Leaders
 
In a reserve role, senior Alex Reed (G, Raleigh, N.C.) scored 11 points and added three rebounds and two assists.  
 
Freshman Tristan Hurdle (G, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) added 10 points on a 4-of-6 (66.7%) effort from the field. 
 
Senior Bryce Sanchious (F, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) totaled eight points and eight assists with three steals. 
 
Summary
 
Both teams started slow offensively, but the Pack were able to build a seven point lead at 14-7 with 9:14 left in the opening frame. Regis responded and went on an 8-2 run to get within one at 16-15. 
 
The two squads traded buckets for the next couple of minutes, as the ThunderWolves held a 23-21 advantage with 5:29 showing on the game clock. A 7-2 run, capped by a Reed 3-pointer, pushed the Pack lead back to seven at 30-23 and CSU Pueblo remained seven ahead at the break 34-27. 
 
The road team scored just four points during the first six minutes of the second half, which allowed the Rangers to post a 17-4 run to open up a 44-38 advantage. Back-to-back 3-pointers by the Pack momentarily stopped the bleeding and tied the game up at 44-44 with 13:11 remaining. 
 
Regis stormed back and rattled off an 8-0 stretch within a minute and a half of game clock. The ThunderWolves never recovered and would only get within four on two occasions the rest of the way. The Rangers had their first double-digit lead at 66-56 with 4:42 remaining and were able to keep the comfortable lead to the final buzzer. 
 
Up Next
 
The Pack close the regular season at home Friday against Regis and then battle No. 7 Colorado School of Mines Saturday in the season finale. Game times will be announced Thursday. No fans will be allowed. 
 
-- PACK --