PUEBLO, Colo. (Jan. 8, 2022) – A strong start for the Colorado State Pueblo men's basketball team isn't enough in a 72-61 loss to South Dakota Mines on Saturday evening.
 
The ThunderWolves jumped out to an early 23-8 lead over the Hardrockers after going 5 of 9 from the 3-point line in the first eight minutes of play. Meekness Payne (Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.) went 3 of 4 from deep in the run while the Pack held the Hardrockers to 4 of 14 shooting from the field and forced SDM to call a timeout after Tristan Hurdle (Fr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.) knocked down the fifth 3-pointer of the night for the ThunderWolves.
 
The Pack maintained a double-digit lead through the remainder of the first half until the Hardrockers came within 8 points with 3:25 left in the half and finally knocked down a 3-pointer with 30 seconds on the clock that gave the ThunderWolves a 5-point lead at half time.
 
South Dakota Mines carried the momentum into the second half making back-to-back layups before Payne hit another three that gave the Pack a 4-point lead. A few minutes later, the Hardrockers hit another 3-pointer and a layup that gave them a 1-point lead before Micah Lamberth (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) found Payne who hit his fifth three on the night and gave the lead back to the Pack with 14:45 on the clock.
 
The Hardrockers then used a 13-5 run from that point on that gave them a 48-42 lead with 12:25 left in the game before two free-throws from Payne and a layup from Ross Young (Sr., Hyattsville, Md.) cut the deficit down to 2 points with just under 12 minutes to play.
 
From that point on, both teams would cool down tremendously, as neither team was able to come up with a made field goal for the next 7 minutes. The Hardrockers maintained a narrow lead throughout that time before SDM Kolten Mortenson made a layup with 3:27 on the clock that gave the Hardrockers a 57-51 lead.
 
Lian Ramiro (Fr., Aurora, Colo.) answered with a pair of layups following the Mortensons bucket that cut lead down to 2 points with 2:36 left in the game before Lamberth then went to the free-thrown line on the ensuing ThunderWolves possession as the Pack were in the double-bonus but, missed both free-throws that would have tied the game with 2 minutes to play.
 
The Hardrockers answered with a bucket on the next play to extend their lead to 4 points before Ramiro hit a pull up 3-pointer that cut the lead down to 1 point with 1:24 remaining.
 
The final dagger from the Hardrockers came from a 3-pointer with just over a minute left in the game that gave the visitors a 4-point advantage as SDM would hold on to 72-61 win over the ThunderWolves.
 
The ThunderWolves finished the night shooting 21 of 57 from the field and 10 of 34 from 3-point land while grabbing 36 rebounds, 11 of which came on the offensive side.
 
Payne led the Pack with 19 points, going 5 of 7 from deep and added 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block. Ramiro finished the night with 13 points, 2 assists, and 2 rebounds while Lamberth, Malcolm Little (So., San Diego, Calif.), and Ross added 6 points apiece.
 
The Pack will start a 4-game road trip that begins next weekend at New Mexico Highlands on Friday night, followed by UCCS on Saturday evening.