PUEBLO, Colo. (Jan. 28) – First half efforts were not enough for the Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball team (8-11, 5-8 RMAC) against Colorado School of Mines (10-7, 8-5 RMAC) as the Orediggers pick up an 81-61 victory over the ThunderWolves on Friday evening.
 
The Pack took their first lead of night at 8-7 after Lian Ramiro (Fr., Aurora, Colo.) knocked down a three ball just three and a half minutes into the ballgame. A 5-0 run after the three from Ramiro gave the ThunderWolves a comfortable lead throughout the first half.
 
Ramiro later found Elijah Moleon (Jr., Killeen, Texas) cutting through the middle of the paint who finished with a one-handed dunk and gave the ThunderWolves their biggest lead of the game at 23-15 with 9:33 on the clock.
 
Mines responded with a 5-2 run to close the gap before Isaiah Thompson (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) hit a mid-range jumper that gave the Pack a 27-20 lead with 5:50 left in the half. A 14-6 run to end the half as the Orediggers went into halftime with a 34-33 advantage.
 
The Orediggers started the second half just as hot, going on a 19-10 run in the first 7 minutes of the half. Mines maintained a double-digit lead throughout the period before a 7-2 run gave the Orediggers a 70-54 lead and an eventual 81-71 victory.
 
The ThunderWolves were led by Ramiro who led all players with 24 points and eight rebounds while dishing out a team-high three assists. Moleon established his presence down low early in the game and finished with 13 points, three rebounds, a block and a steal while Thompson added nine points, eight rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
 
The Pack shot 43.4% on the game which included 23 of 53 from the field and 3 of 13 from 3-point land while outrebounding the Orediggers 34-27. Mines finished the night shooting 33 of 61 from the field which included 63.33% in the second half.
 
The ThunderWolves are back at it tomorrow night against No. 20 Regis with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Massari Arena.