SPEARFISH, S.D. – Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball concluded its three-game road swing here Saturday evening with an 84-69 setback to Black Hills State University in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action at the Donald Young Center.

With the setback, which was our third straight loss, dropped the ThunderWolves record to 9-10 overall and 5-8 in the RMAC, while Black Hills State, who has advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four the past two seasons, improved to 9-9 overall and 7-5 in the league.

Much like Friday night's game at South Dakota Mines, the Pack were outscored 42-6 from the 3-point line as Black Hills State made 14 treys as they were 14-for-31 from the long distance in the contest, while the Pack was just 2-for-15 from downtown. Against the Hardrockers on Friday, the Pack were outscored 33-15 from the 3-point line in the 86-80 loss to South Dakota Mines. The Pack's lone treys were made by freshman guard/forward Corbin Garver (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy) and freshman forward Ty Adam (Severance, Colo./Severance).

Junior forward De'Shaun Cooper (Poway, Calif./Balboa School) led the way offensively for the Pack with 16 points, including scoring 11 points in the second half. In addition to Cooper, junior guard Makiah Morris (San Diego, Calif./San Diego City College) and Garver each scored 11 points. The 11 points by Garver tied his season high.

In the first half, the Yellow Jackets made eight of their first 10 shots, including three 3-pointers to push in front 19-13 just a little over seven minutes into the game. Following BHSU's run, the Pack scored four of next six points to pull within 21-17 with 11:10 left in the opening half.

BHSU would respond with an 18-10 run over the next six-plus minutes to extend its lead to 39-27 with 5:40 left in the first half. The Pack, though, would close the half on an 11-6 run to cut the 'Jackets lead to 45-36 at the half.

In the opening half, BHSU shot 62 percent from the field and made eight of its 15 3-point shot attempts, while the Pack shot 55 percent from the field, but was just 1-for-7 from downtown and 3-for-9 from the free throw line.

The Pack pulled within 57-44 about six minutes into the second half, before the 'Jackets responded with an 18-3 run over the next six minutes to push out to a 75-47 lead with 8:26 left in the game.

Following that run, the Pack put its bench in the game, and they proceeded to outscore the Yellow Jackets, 22-9, over the final eight minutes of the contest with redshirt freshman forward Andon Mindrup (Colorado Springs, Colo./St. Mary's) scored seven of those 22 points. The seven points were a career high for Mindrup.

Caelin Hearne led three Black Hills State players in double figures with 21, while Deegan Williams added 14 points and 11 rebounds and Matthew Ragsdale also scored 14 points for the Yellow Jackets.

For the game, the Pack shot 46 percent from the field and a season-low 13 percent from the 3-point line, while BHSU finished the night shooting 58 percent from the field and 45 percent from the 3-point line.

The Pack were outrebounded 34-27 as Morris led the way in rebounding for the Pack with six and had a season low two assists on 25 made baskets. The Yellow Jackets had 14 assists.
 
CSU Pueblo won the turnover battle as they had just eight in the game, while BHSU had 11 turnovers. The Pack also outscored the 'Jackets bench, 27-22 in the loss.

After going just 3-for-9 at the free throw line in the first half, the Pack went 14-for-17 (82 percent) from the line in the second half and finished the game shooting 65 percent (17-for-26) at the line. BHSU was just 4-for-7 at the line.

The Pack will look to get back into the win column next Friday, Feb. 2 as they begin a three-game homestand at Massari Arena with a 7:30 p.m. RMAC contest against Regis University.