GUNNISON, Colo. – Colorado State University Pueblo began a key three-game Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference road swing here Friday evening by suffering a disappointing 79-72 loss to Western Colorado at Paul Wright Gymnasium.

With the loss, the ThunderWolves snap its two-game winning streak and fall to 9-8 overall and 5-6 in the RMAC, while Western Colorado improves to 6-10 overall and 2-7 RMAC.

After holding a 33-31 lead at the half thanks to shooting 48 percent from the field, the Pack shot just 34 percent from the field and were outscored 48-39 in the second half as the Mountaineers rallied for the victory. WCU shot 52 percent from the field and 58 percent from the 3-point line after halftime.

Senior guard Brevin Walter (Las Vegas, Nev./South Dakota Mines) led the way for the Pack with 15 points, while senior guard Makiah Morris (San Diego, Calif./San Diego City College) added 14 points and junior guard Daeyon James (Stockbridge, Ga./Seward County CC) tallied 12 points off the bench, including scoring nine of those points in the second half. The final two double-digit scorers were junior forward De'Shaun Cooper (Poway, Calif./Balboa School) and junior guard Armon Muldrew (Perris, Calif./San Bernardino Valley) each had 11 points.

Kade Juelfs led the Mountaineers with a game-high 22 points, while Avery Rembao scored 14 points, including 11 in the second half and Christian Still tallied 11 points in the win.

After the Pack took its final lead of the game at 46-44 on a lay-up by freshman guard Corbin Garver (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy) with 14:34 left in the game, the Mountaineers used a 17-8 run to push out to a 61-54 lead with 7:48 left in the game.

The Pack would make one more run as they scored five straight points to pull within 61-59 with 6:17 left, before WCU responded with a 12-5 run to push its lead to 73-64 with 2:34 left. After Walter scored four of the next six points in the game to bring the Pack within 74-68 with 1:36 left.

WCU, though, would close the game by scoring five of the game's final nine points to seal the victory and snap the Pack's two-game win streak.

In the opening half, the Pack got off to an 18-9 start just eight minutes into the game as they made eight of their first 12 shots from the field. WCU, though responded with a 10-4 run to pull within 22-19 following a basket by Xavier Harris with 8:49 left in the opening quarter.

Following the Mountaineers run, the Pack came back and scored seven of the next 11 points to push in front 29-23 following a basket by Muldrew with 4:25 left in the opening half.

The Mountaineers would close out the first half on an 8-4 run to cut the Pack's lead to 33-31 at the half.

After making eight of its first 12 shots, the Pack finished the first half shooting 48 percent (13-for-27) from the field, but was just 1-for-6 (17 percent) from the 3-point line.

For the game, the Pack shot 41 percent from the field and 38 percent from the 3-point line, while WCU shot 47 percent from the field and 39 percent from the 3-point line.

The Pack were outrebounded, 38-35 and committed nine turnovers that led to 12 points for the Mountaineers.

Both teams shot 18-for-25 from the free throw line in the game.

The Pack will return to action next Friday, Jan. 26 as they travel to Rapid City, S.D., for a 7:30 p.m. RMAC contest against South Dakota Mines. The Pack suffered a 101-99 overtime loss to the Hardrockers in Pueblo on Dec. 15.