PUEBLO, Colo. (December 31, 2022) - The Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball team closed the 2022 year with a victory, claiming a 70-66 win over Westminster on Saturday inside Massari Arena.

In the game, CSU Pueblo shot 50.0 percent from the field and knocked down four threes. The ThunderWolves out-rebounded Westminster 31-25 and finished four points ahead in points in the paint by a 38-34 clip.

The Pack was led offensively by four players scoring in double-figures. De'Shaun Cooper and Lian Ramiro both ended with 15 points.

Cooper recorded two blocks and was 6-of-9 from the floor. Ramiro ended the night perfect from the free throw line, going 11-for-11 from the line.

Through the first half, CSU Pueblo shot a remarkable 63.0 percent from the field. Cooper and Isaiah Thompson led the offensive attack, scoring 13 and 12 points, respectively. Thompson was a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor and had a team high five rebounds through the first twenty minutes for the ThunderWolves who carried a 39-33 lead into the break.

Starting the second half, CSU Pueblo fought through a scoring rally from the Griffins and the defense stepped up in a big way and totaled five steals and scored 17 points off ten turnovers from WC.

A late rally from Westminster with 5:33 left gave the Griffins a five-point lead 62-57 before the ThunderWolves stormed back and went on a 9-0 run in just over four minutes of action and led 66-62 with 1:44 remaining.

With 37 seconds left, Ramiro hit a jumper to give the Pack a four-point cushion. Sam Howery iced the game with a pair of free throws with ten seconds left in regulation.

CSU Pueblo (7-6, 3-4 RMAC) goes on the road next week and plays Friday at Mines at 7 p.m. and the Pack will close the weekend Saturday at MSU Denver starting at 7:30 p.m.