PUEBLO, Colo. – The Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball team will look to stay perfect in the New Year this week as the ThunderWolves hit the road to open a two-week, four-game road trip beginning with Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contests at Adams State and New Mexico Highlands.
CSU Pueblo will open the road trip on Thursday, Jan. 22 with a 7:30 p.m. game in Alamosa, Colo., against Adams State University, before continuing the trip with a 2 p.m. game on Saturday, Jan. 24 in Las Vegas, N.M., against New Mexico Highlands. This week's games are the sixth and seventh games in the New Year for the Pack as they are sporting a 5-0 record in 2026.
The ThunderWolves enter the week sporting a 12-4 overall record and are sitting in a three-way tie with Colorado Mesa and 21st-ranked Black Hills State in the RMAC standings with a 6-2 record after completing its three-game homestand last week with victories over Colorado School of Mines (63-54) and Regis (82-57) to extend its win streak to five consecutive games, which is tied for the longest active win streak among RMAC schools. Additionally, the Pack has won six of its last eight games overall and five of its last six league contests heading into the midpoint of the conference schedule.
This week's two games will mark the seventh and eighth road games for the Pack and just their second and third road games in the 2026 calendar years as the Pack is 4-2 on the road, including being 2-1 on the road in RMAC play with the road conference wins coming at Chadron State (89-74) and UCCS (82-73) and the lone loss coming in overtime at South Dakota Mines (84-77).
ABOUT THE PACK
CSU Pueblo continues to be one of the top defense teams in Division II men's basketball as the Pack enters this week's action leading the RMAC in scoring defense (63.2 points per game), field goal percentage defense (38.9 percent) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (28.5 percent). On the season, the Pack has held 11 of its 16 opponents under 70 points, including limiting its last three foes to 57 or less points. Along with leading the RMAC in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense and 3-point field goal defense, the Pack ranks 13th, 13th and 20th nationally in Division II in those three categories. Since the start of the 2019-20 season, the Pack is 21-2 when holding opponents under 60 points, including a perfect 6-0 mark this season.
Additionally, the ThunderWolves, coached by first-year head coach
Zach Ruebesam, are seventh in the league in rebounding as they are averaging 37.4 boards per game, are fourth in the league in rebound margin at +5.6, and are second in the league in scoring margin at +10.8.
Offensively, the Pack is averaging 73.9 points per game and is shooting 44.9 percent from the field, 35 percent from the 3-point line, and is eighth in the league in free throw shooting at 71.8 percent. Additionally, the Pack is fourth in the league in assists per game (16.1), fifth in steals per game (7.4), and second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.28). Sophomore guard
Mac Terry (Castle Pines, Colo./South Dakota Mines) leads the RMAC and Division II in assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.14 as he has had 58 assists and just 14 turnovers in 16 games and senior guard
Sam Howery (Colorado Springs, Colo./St. Mary's) is second in the RMAC and seventh nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.20 as he has had 48 assists and 15 turnovers on the season.
Along with leading the league in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense and 3-point field goal percentage defense, the Pack is also among the league leaders in both turnovers forced per game and turnover margin. The Pack is seventh in the RMAC in turnovers forced per game (13.2) and third in turnover margin (+0.6) as the Pack is committing just 12.6 turnovers per game as a team. In RMAC play, the Pack is averaging 10.5 turnovers per game and have a +1.9 turnover margin as their eight league foes have averaged 12.4 turnovers per game.
Through 16 games this season, the Pack has two players – sophomore guard/forward
Jordan Blair (Keller, Texas/Keller Central) and redshirt junior guard
Jaden Kennis (Windsor, Colo./MSU Denver) – averaging in double figures this season. Those two players have combined to score 434 of the Pack's 1,183 points and have scored 36.7 percent of the Pack's points this season. Blair has scored 230 points and is averaging a team-leading 14.4 points per game, while Kennis has scored 204 points and is averaging 12.8 points per game.
Along with averaging a team-leading 14.4 points per game, Blair is also the team's leading rebounder as he is averaging 7.0 boards per game and is shooting 47.9 percent from the field, 45.2 percent from the 3-point line, and 66.2 percent from the free throw line and has scored in double figures in 13 of 16 games this season, including tallying double figures in scoring in five straight games and seven times in his last eight games overall.
In addition to scoring 12.8 points per game, Kennis is averaging 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game and is shooting 43.1 percent from the field, 32.7 percent from the 3-point line and 81.8 percent at the free throw line and has scored in double figures in 12 of 16 games and has pulled down six or more rebounds in game 11 times.
Three other Pack players are averaging over 7.0 points per game this season - junior guard
Dylan Sanders (Aurora, Colo./Pearl River CC), redshirt sophomore forward
Ty Adam (Severance, Colo./Severance) and junior forward
Kyren Allen (Commerce City, Colo./Trinidad State College).
Sanders, who has scored in double figures in four of his last five games, is averaging 9.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game and is shooting 41 percent from the field, 32.8 percent (20-for-61) from the 3-point line and a team-leading 83.3 percent (40-for-48) at the free throw line, which is 12th in the RMAC. He is tied for the team lead in steals with 19 and his 20 made 3-pointers are second-most on the team. Meanwhile, Adam is averaging 7.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game and is shooting 53.3 percent from the field, 50 percent (9-for-18) from the 3-point line and 72.7 percent (24-for-33) at the free throw line and has tallied double figures in four of his last seven games and six times overall on the season and Allen is averaging 7.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game and is shooting a team-best 71.4 percent (40-for-56) from the floor and has scored in double figures in three of his last four games and four times overall on the season. In addition, Allen leads the team in dunks with 15.
ABOUT ADAMS STATE
Adams State comes into this week's action having won four of its last five games and five of its last eight games overall as the Grizzlies are sporting a 10-6 overall record and a 4-4 mark in the RMAC. The Grizzlies, though, had its four-game win streak snapped last Saturday as they fell 87-67 at South Dakota Mines. ASU's four wins in league play have come at MSU Denver (87-59), at Chadron State (92-90) and at home against Westminster (91-76) and Colorado Mesa in overtime (102-98), while its four losses came at Mines (97-87), at New Mexico Highlands (86-85), at Fort Lewis (94-85) and South Dakota Mines.
ASU has been strong at home this season as they are 6-0 on its home court, including being 2-0 at home in RMAC play and the Grizzlies have won eight straight home games dating to last season.
Adams State, who was tabbed ninth in the Preseason RMAC Coaches' Poll as they earned 86 points, has five players averaging in double figures with senior guard Luke Williams leading the way as he is averaging 15.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game and is shooting 45 percent from the field and 76 percent at the free throw line. He has had 10 double-digit scoring games, including five games with 20 or more points.
In addition to Williams, senior forward Wyatt Helming is averaging 14.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game and is shooting 51 percent from the field, 39 percent from the 3-point line and 78 percent at the free throw line and is third in the RMAC in blocked shots with 22.
The other three double-digit scorers for the Grizzlies are - sophomore forward Emilek Jallow (11.5 ppg, 1.2 bpg, 51.8 FG pct.), senior guard Dillan Baker (10.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, team-best 29 treys) and senior guard Jarmell Johnson (10.2 ppg, 38.6 FG pct.).
As a team, ASU is second in the league in scoring as they are averaging 85.7 points per game and have scored 85 or more points in a game 12 times, including topping the century mark twice. In addition, ASU is second in the RMAC in 3-point shooting at 32.4 percent and are making 9.2 treys per game and are third in the league in rebounding as they are averaging 38.6 boards per game and are shooting 44.6 percent from the field. On defense, ASU is allowing 85.7 points per game, but leads the league in blocked shots as they are averaging 4.4 blocks per game and thei foes are shooting 44 percent from the field and 36 percent from the 3-point line.
ASU is coached by Kenny Tripp, who is in his third season with the Grizzlies and has compiled a 30-42 overall record.
Thursday's game marks the first of two meetings this season between the two schools as the Pack hold a 69-30 all-time edge in the series. The Pack leads 28-19 in Alamosa and also leads 41-10 in Pueblo, but the series is tied 5-5 over the last 10 games. Last season, the teams split their match-ups as the Pack won 92-88 in overtime at Massari Arena on Jan. 23 and fell 115-110 in overtime at Adams State on Feb. 22.
ABOUT NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS
New Mexico Highlands, who hosts UCCS on Thursday before facing the Pack on Saturday, enters this week's action having won two of its last three games and is sporting a 6-13 overall record and a 4-4 mark in the RMAC after splitting games last week as the Cowboys fell 79-74 at then 15th-ranked Black Hills State and earned an 88-84 win at Chadron State. Since opening the season by losing its first seven games, the Cowboys have posted a 6-6 record.
The Cowboys have played just six of their first 19 games at home as they are 3-3 at home this season, including being 2-1 at home in RMAC play with the lone loss coming to Colorado Mesa (94-84).
New Mexico Highlands, who was tabbed to finish 11th in the Preseason RMAC Coaches' Poll as they earned 74 points from the league's head coaches, has two double-digit scorers and four other players averaging over eight points per game. The Cowboys have played 19 different players this season. Senior guard Marcus Pierce leads the team in scoring as he is averaging 14.6 points and 3.1 assists per game and is shooting 56 percent from the field, 52 percent from the 3-point line and 87 percent at the free throw line and has scored in double figures in four straight games and 12 times overall.
In addition to Pierce, senior guard Ramiah Adedigba is averaging 11.1 points per game and is shooting 58 percent from the field and 37 percent from the 3-point line.
Three other Cowboys are averaging over 8.5 points per game this season as senior guard Dontae Walker is averaging 9.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game and is shooting 43 percent from the field and has scored in double figures in 12 games, while junior forward Nikk Williams is averaging 9.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and leads the team in blocked shots with 12 and is shooting 54 percent from the field and has posted four double-doubles and junior forward Ibrahima Sacko is averaging 8.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game and is shooting 57 percent from the field and has had six double-digit scoring games.
As a team, New Mexico Highlands is averaging 74.4 points per game and is allowing 77.8 points per game. The Cowboys are third in the RMAC in field goal percentage as they are shooting 47.3 percent from the field, while shooting 34 percent from the 3-point line and 66.7 percent from the free throw line.'
Defensively, NMHU is among the top teams in the RMAC in 3-point field goal percentage defense (32.5 percent), turnovers forced per game (15.8) and steals per game (9.5).
New Mexico Highlands is coached by first-year head coach Zach Settembre. Settembre, who is 6-13 with the Cowboys, came to New Mexico Highlands after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Tarleton State University. Along with coaching at Tarleton State, Settembre was the head coach at Tallahassee Community College for two seasons (2019-21) and also served as an assistant coach at Coastal Carolina and New Mexico State. Settembre, who is a 2012 graduate of Syracuse University, was a student manager at Syracuse Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim. The Louisville, Ky., native graduated from St. Xavier High School in 2009.
Saturday's game marks the second of two meetings this season and the 103rd all-time on the hardwood between the two schools. The Pack holds a 68-34 all-time lead in the series as they lead the series, 40-11 at home, and 27-23 in Las Vegas, N.M. The Cowboys, though, have won six of the last 11 games in the series, but the Pack collected a 70-59 win over the Cowboys in their non-conference finale this season on Jan. 3. Last season, the teams split their two meetings, with the Cowboys collecting an 85-63 win on their home court on Nov. 23 and the Pack picking up a 69-63 win in Massari Arena on Jan. 25.
UP NEXT
Following this week's games at Adams State and New Mexico Highlands, the Pack will conclude its four-game road trip with a 7:30 p.m. game on Thursday, Jan. 29 in Grand Junction, Colo., against Colorado Mesa and then play at 3 p.m. game on Saturday, Jan. 31 in Salt Lake City against Westminster. The Pack opened RMAC play with a 65-56 win over the Griffins in Pueblo on Dec. 4.
