WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball continued its strong start to the 2025–26 season, moving to 2-0 after a wire-to-wire 72-60 victory over Midwestern State here Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
The ThunderWolves, who have opened 2-0 for the second consecutive season, controlled the tempo from the opening tip, never trailing and holding the lead for more than 39 minutes in a game defined by defensive pressure and balanced scoring. The Pack began the season with an 82-74 win on Friday at Cameron.
"What are great way to open the season with back-to-back road wins against quality Lone Star Conference opponents. I am really proud of our guys for coming on the road, playing well on back-to-back nights," CSU Pueblo first-year head coach Zach Ruebesam said. "Our team did a really good job on the defensive end of the floor today - we held them to 31 percent shooting and had a +10 edge on the boards."
The Pack set the tone early in Saturday's game with a decisive first-half performance, using crisp ball movement and efficient perimeter shooting to break open what was expected to be a tightly contested match-up after Midwestern State opened the season with a 97-90 home win over UCCS. The ThunderWolves attacked from long range, hitting six first-half 3-pointers, including four of those treys coming from junior guard Dylan Sanders (Aurora, Colo./Pearl River CC), who provided a spark off the bench. Sanders' 12 first-half points helped the Pack build a commanding 16-point lead at 38-22.
Sanders was one of three Pack players in double figures with 12 points. In addition to Sanders, sophomore guard/forward Jordan Blair (Keller, Texas/Keller Central) paced the Pack with 15 points and added nine rebounds for the second straight game, while junior guard Jaden Kennis (Windsor, Colo./MSU Denver) added 14 points and six boards as he battled foul problems.
For the game, the Pack shot 43 percent from the field and 35 percent from the 3-point line, but struggled at the free throw as they were 13-for-23 (56.6 percent) at the free throw line, while Midwestern State (1-1) struggled shooting the ball in the opening half as they made just seven of their 28 field goal attempts (25 percent) and were just 1-for-9 from the 3-point line.
After halftime, the Mustangs found their footing behind an explosive performance from Orlando Horton, Jr., who scored 20 of his game-high 22 points after the half.
Sophomore guard Mac Terry (Castle Pines, Colo./South Dakota Mines) directed the Pack offense efficiently, dishing out eight assists and committing only one turnover in 30 minutes of action. Through two games this season, Terry has played a total of 57 minutes and has recorded 12 assists and one assist.
In addition to Terry, freshman guard Bryce Riehl (Colorado Springs, Colo./Mesa Ridge) scored seven points with five of those points coming in the first half.
Defensively, CSU Pueblo's effort never wavered. The ThunderWolves held Midwestern State to just 31 percent (19-for-61) from the field and just 15 percent (3-for-20) from the 3-point line. The Pack also won the rebounding battle, 48-38, including a 12-10 edge on the offensive glass. Blair, Kennis, and Sanders combined for 20 rebounds.
The Pack also forced the Mustangs into 11 turnovers, which led to 11 points for MSU, while the Pack committed 16 turnovers, which led to 16 MSU points.
In addition to Horton, Jr., Terrance Ramirez chipped in with 11 points and six boards.
The Pack will look to make it three consecutive victories as they open the home portion of its schedule with a 7 p.m. contest at Massari Arena on Friday, Nov. 21, against Kansas Wesleyan, before hosting North American University on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m.
