PUEBLO, Colo (Dec. 10, 2022) - The Colorado State University Pueblo Men's Basketball was able to showcase one of their best all-around efforts on Saturday night, unfortunately falling short to a No. 12 ranked Fort Lewis squad. Four players scored in double-figures for the Pack, led by Meekness Payne with 14, followed by Lian Ramiro, Moses Demalek, and Isaiah Thompson with 13 apiece. 
 
CSU Pueblo was able to get off to a hot start in the first half, going up 8 before their defense allowed a basket. Fort Lewis was able to keep things close, battling the score to 8-4, but Ramiro was able to knock down a big three with 14:50 remaining in the half. Fort Lewis continued to keep things close, on a big run highlighted by baskets from Elijah Moleon, Makiah Morris, Thompson and Demalek. With 6:30 remaining in the half, a confident ThunderWolves squad had a 29-19 lead. 
 
Defense continued to be tough though, and a three pointer from Micah Lamberth, and a jump shot from Ramiro put the pack ahead 13 with 1:12 left in the half. Payne ended the half with an exclamation point, blocking the Skyhawks layup attempt and giving the nearly 1,000 people in attendance some energy going into halftime, leading 48-21. The big first half was highlighted by shooting 55.56% from the field, 50% from beyond the arc, and a perfect 5 for 5 from the free throw line. The Pack never trailed in the first half. 
 
Following the break, Fort Lewis scored fast, but Payne responded quickly with a 3 of his own, getting the lead to 14 points. A pair of traded three pointers kept the lead steady, but the Pack defense started to falter. Following some costly turnovers, Fort Lewis was able to capitalize and drew within 3 halfway through the second. Moleon responded, putting the Pack back up 5 with a layup, but turnovers continued to be an issue, when the Skyhawks were able to capitalize an and one attempt to tie the game for the first time since just two minutes into the game. 
 
Payne was able to retake the lead, but a three had the Pack down one. Demalek continued to be a difference maker, responding with a bucket of his own. The teams traded baskets, but a 6 point run had the Skyhawks up by 6. Payne drained a big three pointer, to make it a one possession game. But turnovers saw the ThunderWolves facing a 5 point deficit with just 44 seconds remaining. Payne was able to get a quick bucket, drawing within three, but a forced foul situation saw the Skyhawks pull back ahead 4 as time expired, the final score being 69-65. 
 
CSU Pueblo was incredibly tough on Saturday night, giving Fort Lewis all they could handle. The bench was able to score 18 points, being a key to the close game. Being physical in the paint, scoring 30, and dropping in 10 threes showed that the Pack offense is able to hang with anyone in the country. But the key difference maker that ended up being the downfall was 16 turnovers to Fort Lewis' 6. 
 
The loss drops 6-4, and 2-2 in conference competition. The ThunderWolves will be back in action next Friday the 16th, heading to Rapid City, S.D. to face South Dakota Mines at 7:30 p.m.