WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball opened its 2023-24 season here Friday afternoon with an 80-74 setback in double overtime against Midwestern State at D.L. Ligon Coliseum on the Midwestern State campus.
 
The ThunderWolves trailed by 10 points with 3:15 left in regulation, outscored the Mustangs 11-1 over the final three minutes of regulation, including capping the run with a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left from junior guard Armon Muldrew (Perris, Calif./San Bernardino), to send the game into overtime with the scored tied at 59.
 
In the overtime session, the Pack jumped out to a 64-59 lead just two-plus minutes into the period, before MSU used a 7-1 run to take a 66-65 lead with 43 seconds left. About 21 seconds later, Muldrew hit another trey to give the Pack a 68-66 lead.
 
After the Mustangs failed to score on its trip down court, Muldrew would get fouled on the next Pack possession and step to the line for two free throws with five seconds left in the first overtime, but Muldrew missed on both attempts and on the rebound attempt, Muldrew was called for a foul on MSU's Mason Gibson. Gibson would hit two free throws to tie the game at 68 and force a second overtime.
 
In the second overtime, the Mustangs outscored the Pack, 12-6, including going 5-for-5 from the free throw line to seal the victory in the season opener for both teams.
 
Muldrew led four Pack players in double figures with 21 points, including a 5-for-11 effort from the 3-point line. In addition to Muldrew, junior guard Daeyon James (Stockbridge, Ga./Seward County CC) added 17 points and eight rebounds, while senior guard Makiah Morris (San Diego, Calif./San Diego City College) finished with a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds. The double-double was the first of Morris' Pack career.
 
The fourth Pack player to score in double-digits was junior guard Aurrion Harris (Merced, Calif./Columbia College) as he scored 10 points off the bench. Junior forward De'Shaun Cooper (Poway, Calif./Balboa School) just missed a double-double as he had nine points and eight rebounds in the setback.

CSU Pueblo jumped out to a 20-13 lead with a little under six minutes left in the first half, before MSU used a 15-8 run to close half and tie the game at 28-all at the half thanks to three free throws by Gibson with 28 seconds left in the half. 

The Mustangs opened the second half on a 16-2 run to turn a 28-all tie at the half into a 44-30 lead just little over five minutes into the second half. CSU Pueblo, though responded with a 16-7 run capped by a fast-break 3-pointer by Morris to pull with Pack within 51-46 with 7:21 left. Following Morris' trey, MSU used a 7-2 run to push its lead to 58-48 with with 3:15 left in the regulation. 
 
For the game, the Pack shot 37 percent from the field and 35 percent from the 3-point line as they attempted 40 and made just 14. MSU finished the game shooting 39 percent from the field and just 21 percent (4-for-19) from the 3-point line.
 
The biggest difference in the game came at the free throw line as the Mustangs outshot the Pack, 23-7 at the line as MSU was 20-for-23 (87 percent) from the free throw line, while the Pack was 4-for-7 (57 percent).
 
Pierre Sanders led the way offensively for the Pack with 18 points, while Gibson added 15 points, including a 10-for-11 effort at the free throw line. Will Shepherd and Duncan Alevok each had 12 points and Bakari LaStrap added 10 points off the bench as MSU's bench outscored the Pack, 27-12. 
 
The Pack were outrebounded, 51-44 and lost the turnover battle, 22-20. CSU Pueblo, though, would hold an 18-16 advantage on points off turnovers. 

CSU Pueblo will look to rebound on Saturday, Nov. 11 as they travel to Lawton, Okla., for a 6:30 p.m. MT game against Cameron University. Cameron opened the season on Friday with a 67-65 home loss to fellow Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference member, UCCS.