PUEBLO, Colo. – Despite a career-high 21 points from sophomore guard/forward Jordan Blair (Keller, Texas/Keller Central), Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball suffered its first loss of the 2025-26 season, falling 70-63 to Eastern New Mexico here Saturday in front of a season-high 1,208 fans in the finale of the Thanksgiving Classic at Massari Arena.

Blair, whose 21 points were a season-high for a Pack player, was 6-for-17 from the field and was 9-for-15 at the free-throw line as the Pack fell to 5-1 on the season with the setback. Eastern New Mexico extended its win streak to five straight games, and they also moved to 5-1 on the season.

The Pack, who started the season 5-0 for the first time since the 2006-07 season, were looking to open the season 6-0 for the first time since going 7-0 to open the 1990-00 campaign. The loss was also the first for the Pack's first-year head coach, Zach Ruebesam.

Saturday's action at the Thanksgiving Classic began with UT Permian Basin collecting a 103-93 double overtime win over MSU Denver.

The ThunderWolves trailed by as many as 14 points in both halves before using a 21-12 run over the next 10-plus minutes to pull within 67-62 with 50 seconds left following a dunk by Blair. The Greyhounds, though, hit three of four free throws over the next 25 seconds to push its lead to 70-62, before Blair capped the scoring by making 1-of-2 free throws with three seconds remaining in the contest.

In addition to Blair's career-high 21 points and career-high tying nine rebounds, junior guard Jaden Kennis (Windsor, Colo./MSU Denver) added 18 points, while junior guard Dylan Sanders (Aurora, Colo./Pearl River CC) tallied 13 points and five rebounds, including four offensive boards, in the setback. Sanders hit three of the Pack's seven treys in the game.

On the night, the Pack shot a season-low 32.2 percent from the field and was just 7-for-29 (24.1 percent) from the 3-point line and 18-for-28 (69.2 percent) from the free throw line, including going 11-for-18 (61.1 percent) at the line after halftime.
Meanwhile, ENMU finished the night shooting 44.6 percent from the field, 3-for-11 (27.3 percent) from the 3-point line, and 70.8 percent (17-for-24) from the free throw line.

The Greyhounds, whose lone loss was a 76-73 setback in the season opener against Fort Lewis, were paced by the inside presence of Jose Murillo as he tallied a double-double of 21 points and 15 rebounds and added four blocks. In addition to Murillo, Mo Austin, who prepped at Pueblo South High School, had 18 points, four rebounds, four assists, and four steals playing in his hometown, while Cooper Jackson added 15 points, and Austin Abrams tallied 10 points and five rebounds in the win.

ENMU jumped out to 27-13 lead with 6:28 left in the first half, before the Pack used an 8-3 run capped by a 3-pointer from Kennis to pull within 30-21 with 4:12 left. After the Greyhounds responded by scoring four of the next five points to take a 34-22 lead, the Pack closed the half by scoring seven straight points, including capping the first half with a trey from Sanders with three seconds left to cut the Greyhounds' halftime lead to 34-29.

On the night, the Pack was outrebounded, 40-37, and outscored, 38-22 in the paint. In addition, the Pack had 10 turnovers, while ENMU committed 13 turnovers, but the Greyhounds held a 17-12 edge in points off turnovers.

The Pack also held a 15-12 advantage on assists, and the Pack blocked five shots, including three from senior center Kaleb Mitchell (Fountain, Colo./Northern State). Mitchell also added seven rebounds on the night.

CSU Pueblo will now turn its attention to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play as the Pack opens league play next weekend at home with games against Westminster on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 3 p.m. against Western Colorado.  The Pack was tabbed to finish 12th in the Preseason RMAC poll as they earned 68 points from the league's head coaches.