LAS VEGAS, N.M. –Despite a season-high 16 made three-pointers, the Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball team fell on the road here Saturday afternoon, dropping an 82–76 decision to New Mexico Highlands in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action at the John A. Wilson Complex.

The ThunderWolves, who fell to 13-5 overall and is in a three-way tie for third place in the RMAC with a 7-3 record, shot 48.5 percent from beyond the arc and led by as many as six points late in the first half, but the Cowboys (8-13, 6-4 RMAC) used a dominant inside presence and a late push to secure the victory.

Saturday's loss snapped a season-high six-game win streak for the Pack and was also the Pack's first loss in the New Year, as they are now 6-1 in 2026.

CSU Pueblo built a 43–39 halftime advantage behind a blistering shooting performance, knocking down 12 three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes. Freshman guard Bryce Riehl (Colorado Springs, Colo./Mesa Ridge) led the way off the bench, finishing with a game and career-high 25 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 7-of-9 from three-point range. The seven treys were the most in a game by a Pack player since Gavin Liggett made eight triples against Westminster on Dec. 14, 2018. 

The 16 made 3-pointers are the most in a game by the Pack since making 16 against Colorado Mesa on Jan. 12, 2019. 

In addition to Riehl, sophomore guard/forward Jordan Blair (Keller, Texas/Keller Central) and junior forward Kyren Allen (Commerce City, Colo./Trinidad State) each tallied 11 points, while junior guard Dylan Sanders (Aurora, Colo./Pearl River CC) added nine points off the bench on a 3-for-5 effort from the 3-point line and redshirt junior guard Jaden Kennis (Windsor, Colo./MSU Denver) had nine points, four rebounds and a career-high tying six assists.

New Mexico Highlands answered in the second half, outscoring the ThunderWolves 43–33. The Cowboys controlled the paint, holding a 42–14 advantage in points in the lane and also held a 15-2 edge in points off turnovers as the Pack committed 13 turnovers in the game.

New Mexico Highlands, who trailed 43-39 at the half, opened the second half making four of its first six shots to take a 47-46 with 15:45 left in the game. The Pack opened the half, making just one of its first four shots after shooting 52 percent from the field in the first half. 

The Cowboys eventually used a 16-3 run over a span of four-plus minutes to take a 65-54 lead with 9:34 left in the game. The Pack, though, responded with a 16-8 run capped by three free throws from Riehl with 3:25 left to pull the ThunderWolves within 73-70. 

After NMHU got two free throws from Marcus Pierce to take a 75-70 lead, Riehl drilled his seventh triple of the game with 1:24 left to pull the Pack within 75-73. On the Cowboys' next trip down the floor, Ramiah Adedigba made a 3-pointer with 56 seconds left to give NMHU a 78-73 lead. That 3-pointer was the only bucket of the game for Adedigba, who entered the game averaging 11.1 points per game. 

The Pack made one push as they used a free throw by Blair and a lay-up by Allen to pull within 78-76 with 20 seconds left, but the Cowboys sealed the win with four straight free throws. 

In the opening half, the Pack used 12 made 3-pointers, including four from freshman guard Bryce Riehl (Colorado Springs, Colo./Mesa Ridge) to take a 43-39 halftime lead. The Pack entered the game 11-0 on the season when leading at the half. 

In addition to Riehl's four treys, Sanders made three, while four other Pack players made one as they were 12-for-21 from the 3-point line and just 2-for-6 on their other shots as they shot 57 percent from the 3-point line and 52 percent from the field.

Highlands, though, shot 61 percent from the field and 50 percent from the 3-point line in the first half.
 
Dontae Walker paced Highlands with 21 points, while Caileb Parham and Ibrahima Sacko combined for 25 points and 14 rebounds. Marcus Pierce added 17 points and four assists for the Cowboys and BJ Comer had 10 points for the Cowboys.

CSU Pueblo finished the game shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 49 percent (16-for-33) from the 3-point line and was out-rebounded 29-26 and attempted 11 fewer free throws (29 to 18) than NMHU. The contest featured 10 lead changes and seven ties before the Cowboys closed the final minute at the line.

Meanwhile, NMHU finished the game shooting 57 percent from the field and 40 percent from the 3-point line in the victory. The Cowboys were also 24-for-29 (82.8 percent) at the line, while the Pack was 12-for-18 (66.7 percent) from the line.

The Pack will continue its four-game road trip next Thursday, Jan. 29, as it travels to Grand Junction, Colo., for a 7:30 p.m. RMAC contest against Colorado Mesa. Colorado Mesa improved to 11-7 overall and 7-3 in the RMAC following its 86-68 home win on Saturday over Chadron State.