PUEBLO, Colo. (November 11, 2026) – Coming off one of the most successful seasons in nearly three decades, the Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball team will begin its highly anticipated 2026-27 campaign this weekend as second-year head coach Zach Ruebesam and the ThunderWolves host Midwestern State and Cameron University in the South Central Regional Challenge at Massari Arena.

The Pack will open its 64th season of four-year collegiate basketball on Friday, Nov. 13, with a 6 p.m. contest against Midwestern State, before returning to the court less than 24 hours later to face Cameron on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. Both games will be played at Massari Arena, where the ThunderWolves posted a 14-2 record last season, including a 9-1 mark in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.

CSU Pueblo enters the season with heightened expectations following a remarkable turnaround in Ruebesam's first season, as the ThunderWolves finished with a 22-8 overall record, posted a 15-5 mark in the RMAC and tied for second place in the league standings. The 22 victories marked the program's first 20-win season since 1997-98 and represented a 10-win improvement from the previous season.

The ThunderWolves also advanced to the semifinals of the RMAC Tournament before suffering a heartbreaking 57-56 loss to Colorado Mesa, finishing one victory shy of playing for the conference tournament championship and an opportunity to earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time since 1998.

After being picked to finish 12th in the 2025-26 Preseason RMAC Coaches' Poll, the Pack enters this season tabbed to finish second in the league's preseason poll after receiving 178 points and one first-place vote. CSU Pueblo also received 20 votes in the Preseason National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Coaches Poll.

While last season was about establishing a winning culture and creating belief within the program, Ruebesam says the challenge entering his second season is maintaining the standards that helped produce the turnaround while managing the expectations surrounding his team.

"I'm really pleased with where our culture is at. We have our guys understand what we're about. They understand what CSU Pueblo basketball is," Ruebesam said. "One of the things we talk about is the work we do every day. We call it a pro approach and what you do outside of practice. One of the things I'm most proud of is that our guys are in the gym every day before practice."

Ruebesam believes the foundation established during his first season has changed the mentality surrounding the program, but he has stressed to his players that last year's success does not guarantee anything this season.

"Last year, especially early in the year, it was getting them to believe and understand that the way we prepare and what we do, if we stick to the process, is going to give you the results you want," Ruebesam added. "Now this year, there's outside expectations, which we talk about all the time as poison. There's a confidence about our group, so my job this year hasn't been necessarily getting them to believe that they can be successful. It's really sometimes bringing them back down to earth a little bit."

The change in expectations is reflected in the preseason conference poll, where the Pack finished behind defending RMAC champion Black Hills State, which received 192 points and 12 first-place votes.
 
Ruebesam understands his team will no longer be able to surprise opponents after last season's success.

"We are no longer the hunter, we are the hunted," Ruebesam said. "You want to be the hunted, but there comes a responsibility, and that is you're not sneaking up on anybody. You are not going to be able to come in any given night November through March and just show up. Everyone is going to circle you on their calendar."

Despite the high expectations, Ruebesam has emphasized the importance of maintaining the same daily approach that helped the ThunderWolves become one of the RMAC's most improved teams last season.

The Pack returns seven letterwinners, including two starters, from last season's squad and welcomes eight newcomers, including five transfers and three freshmen. The returning players have helped accelerate the process of incorporating the newcomers into the program's established standards.

"The biggest blessing has been our seven returners, and our seven returners lived it last year," Ruebesam said. "They have done a great job with the new guys coming in and showing them this is how we do it here. We've been very fortunate with the character of the transfers and the new guys we brought in that we have great buy-in right now overall as a program."

The ThunderWolves will have to replace several important contributors from last season's team, including their top two scorers in Jordan Blair and Dylan Sanders, who combined to average 24.7 points per game. Blair led the Pack in scoring at 13.4 points per game and rebounding at 6.4 boards per contest, while Sanders averaged 11.3 points per game and led the team with 56 made 3-pointers.

Both players moved on to opportunities at the NCAA Division I level as Blair is playing at Missouri State and Sanders is at Southern Utah, leaving the Pack to replace a combined 740 points, 299 rebounds and 89 made 3-pointers from a season ago.

Also departing are guard Sam Howery, who averaged 3.7 points and 3.0 assists per game, and forward Ty Adam, who averaged 5.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per contest.

While the Pack will have some new faces in important roles, Ruebesam welcomes back an experienced nucleus led by fifth-year senior guard Jaden Kennis (Windsor, Colo./MSU Denver) and junior guard Macoy Terry (Castle Pines, Colo./South Dakota Mines), who combined to make 49 starts last season.

Kennis, a 6-foot-4 guard, is the Pack's leading returning scorer after averaging 11.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game last season. He played in 29 games and made 19 starts while finishing with 325 points, 154 rebounds, 70 assists and 33 steals. Kennis shot 41.0 percent from the field and 81.0 percent from the free throw line.

Ruebesam believes Kennis has developed into one of the team's most important leaders, particularly on the defensive end of the floor.

"If you talk about a guy that I've seen so much growth from the last two years, Jaden Kennis has been awesome for us," Ruebesam said. "He is the heartbeat of our team defensively, has an edge about him, and has a little bit of that not-you're-best-friend-on-the-court edge about him, which is something that every team needs."

Kennis is expected to shoulder an increased offensive responsibility this season after being one of the Pack's primary scoring options a year ago.

"He's all the way bought in. He is a leader on this team, and he's going to be a very, very important piece offensively and defensively," Ruebesam added.

Joining Kennis in the returning backcourt is Terry, who developed into one of the RMAC's most dependable point guards during his first season with the ThunderWolves after transferring from South Dakota Mines.

The 6-foot-4 Terry started all 30 games last season and averaged 7.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and a team-leading 3.3 assists per game. He finished the season with 212 points, 99 assists and just 33 turnovers, giving him an impressive 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. Terry also made 43 3-pointers and averaged a team-high 30.9 minutes per game.

Ruebesam considers Terry one of the most underrated players in the conference because of his leadership, decision-making and ability to make the players around him better.

"Mac Terry is a coach's dream at that point guard spot and someone that is so critical to what we do," Ruebesam said. "The silent leadership, leading by example, the unselfishness, the being in the right spot. He does so many little things that help your team win."

While Terry's ability to protect the basketball was a major factor in the Pack's success last season, Ruebesam is also encouraging him to become more aggressive offensively.

"I told Mac Terry that I want him to take a few more risks this year," Ruebesam said. "We're not going to be careless with the basketball, but I think we left a little bit on the table last year because we took care of the ball so well that we left some easy plays there."

Another important returner is sophomore guard Bryce Riehl (Colorado Springs, Colo./Mesa Ridge), who emerged as one of the Pack's top perimeter threats during his freshman season.

The 6-foot-2 Riehl played in all 30 games and averaged 7.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 48.7 percent from the field and an impressive 46.5 percent from the 3-point line. He connected on a team-high 60 treys in 129 attempts and shot 80 percent from the free throw line.

Riehl's 46.5 percent shooting from behind the arc was one of the Pack's most important offensive weapons last season, and Ruebesam expects the second-year guard to take another step forward in his development.

"I think he's the best shooter in the country," Ruebesam said. "Bryce was really good as a freshman. Now there are a little bit more expectations from him and a little bit more on his shoulders. He's gotten better in the offseason, off the bounce and especially defensively. He's going to be primed for a big year."

Ruebesam also understands Riehl will receive increased attention from opposing defenses after establishing himself as an elite perimeter shooter.

"Everyone's going to know he's a shooter. He shot 46 percent from three last year, and their number one thing on their scouting report is Bryce (Riehl) doesn't get threes," Ruebesam added. "He's going to have to attack first and still get threes off the other guys."
 
In the frontcourt, the Pack welcomes back senior forward Kyren Allen (Commerce City, Colo./Trinidad State), who provided an important physical and athletic presence during his first season with the program.

The 6-foot-7 Allen played in 27 games and made 11 starts while averaging 7.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. He finished the season with 189 points, 131 rebounds and a team-high 16 blocked shots while shooting a remarkable 70.2 percent from the field on 85-of-121 shooting.

Allen's ability to finish around the basket, rebound, and provide energy on both ends of the floor makes him a valuable piece of the Pack's rotation.

"Kyren Allen can play at a ton of places around the country," Ruebesam said. "He's one of our best defenders. He's a rim presence on rolls and in transition. He's going to rebound his butt off. Just the energy and the person that he is huge for us."

Also returning is senior guard/forward Corbin Garver (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy), who enters the season following a healthy offseason after battling injuries during the previous two years.

The 6-foot-5 Garver played in 26 games last season, making four starts, and averaged 3.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. He finished with 85 points and 76 rebounds while shooting 34.5 percent from behind the 3-point line.

Garver, who previously suffered a significant knee injury during the early portion of the 2024-25 season, has shown encouraging progress during the preseason and is expected to provide rebounding, versatility and experience.

"Corbin's had a healthy offseason, which was huge for him this year, had a good summer and has had a good fall," Ruebesam said. "He is one of our best rebounders on our team. Corbin is going to be in the mix because he does all the little things to help you win."

Ruebesam also expects fifth-year senior guard Cash Callaway (Pasco, Wash./South Mountain CC) to have an increased role after serving as a reserve perimeter shooter last season.

The 6-foot-2 Callaway appeared in 19 games and averaged 3.4 points per contest while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from the 3-point line. He connected on 15 of his 37 attempts from long distance and finished with 65 points.

"Cash is going to be in the mix again this year," Ruebesam said. "The thing I'm really proud of with Cash is he's always ready. He could not play for three games, and then he comes in and hits three threes against Black Hills State. I'm looking forward to seeing a mature Cash Callaway this year."

Rounding out the returning players is sophomore guard Max Howery (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Academy), who appeared in seven games last season but has developed into one of the Pack's most important emotional leaders.

Howery, the younger brother of former Pack guard and current graduate assistant coach Sam Howery, has impressed Ruebesam with his willingness to lead, communicate, and hold teammates accountable.

"Max Howery is the best energy player I've ever seen," Ruebesam said. "Max doesn't have a bad day. He comes in and gets the guys going. He's really bought into that role, and I've been really proud of him this year because of the voice that he has leading our guys."

While the Pack has an experienced returning group, Ruebesam and his staff also brought in several talented newcomers who are expected to compete for immediate playing time.

Headlining that group is 6-foot-6, 225-pound senior guard/forward Marzouq Abdur-Razaaq (Aurora, Colo./UCCS), who joins the ThunderWolves after previously playing at UCCS and MSU Denver. Abdur-Razaaq earned Second-Team All-RMAC honors last season at UCCS after averaging 14.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and shooting 57.2 percent from the field, which ranked second in the RMAC.

Abdur-Razaaq brings additional size, strength and scoring ability to the Pack's perimeter and is expected to help fill the offensive role vacated by Blair.

Ruebesam has been especially impressed with Abdur-Razaaq's willingness to embrace the program's defensive standards and his ability to attack the basket.

"Marzouq is 100 percent in and bought into what we're doing," Ruebesam said. "He's extremely talented, just a pleasure to coach on and off the floor. Offensively, he's 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, he's strong, and I love the way he's able to get to the basket. He has a developing inside-out game where he's shooting the ball better this year."

Ruebesam also believes Abdur-Razaaq has made significant strides on the defensive end of the floor.

"He's gotten so much better defensively. I thought that was a big thing for him. There were question marks about whether he could guard on the perimeter, and he's answered those questions with resounding yeses in the preseason."

Another newcomer expected to provide an immediate impact is junior guard/forward Ethan Johnson (Chicago, Ill./Triton), a 6-foot-4 transfer who brings perimeter shooting and defensive versatility to the ThunderWolves. Johnson, who prepped at Sierra Canyon High School where one of his teammates was current Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James, Jr., averaged 11.3 points and shot 38 percent from the 3-point line last season at Triton College. He began his collegiate career in 2024-25 playing at Three Rivers College.

Johnson has exceeded Ruebesam's expectations since arriving on campus.

"Ethan has exceeded all of my expectations," Ruebesam said. "The first thing you'll notice about Ethan is he is a shooter, like Bryce and Cash. He's deadly from three. But where I've really appreciated him is how much he's bought into what we do defensively. He has a chance to be a great on-ball defender."

The Pack also welcomes junior guard Quis Davis (Mansfield, Ohio/Northeastern JC), a 6-foot-2 transfer who provides additional quickness, ball-handling and the ability to penetrate opposing defenses.

Ruebesam believes Davis gives the Pack a different dimension offensively and will help take some of the ball-handling responsibilities away from Terry.

"Quis brings us something we didn't have last year. He's quick," Ruebesam said. "He can get into the paint whenever he wants. He's super unselfish, and he is not afraid. He brings a different pace for us, which I think will be very helpful to Mac Terry."

Also joining the Pack's backcourt is junior guard Tevin Riehl (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Mesa), the older brother of Bryce Riehl.

The 6-foot-2 Riehl joins the ThunderWolves after playing at RMAC rival Colorado Mesa and gives the team another experienced guard familiar with the conference.

"The best thing I can say about Tevin is he's a winner," Ruebesam said. "You know the character of him and the way he works and the time he spends. Whenever his number is called, he's going to be ready. He's a great asset to have through the long season."

In the frontcourt, the Pack added 6-foot-8, 235-pound junior forward William Amoah (Mississauga, Ontario/West Valley College), who is expected to give CSU Pueblo an additional inside presence alongside Allen.

Amoah, who played last season at West Valley College in California, brings size, strength and offensive skill to the Pack's interior.

"Will Amoah can be a pro, and he's learning what it takes to be a pro right now and the way he has to work," Ruebesam said. "He gives us an inside presence, a talent, a skill and, when he's locked in, a competitiveness and a fire that is going to be very, very beneficial for us."

The Pack also welcomes freshman forward Corey Hill (Cheyenne Wells, Colo./Cheyenne Wells), a 6-foot-9, 260-pound post player who arrives after an outstanding high school career.

Hill, who established himself as Colorado's all-time high school leader in double-doubles with 74 and is fifth in state history in rebounding with 1,253 rebounds, brings a physical presence and significant long-term potential to the Pack's frontcourt.
Ruebesam says Hill's biggest adjustment has been adapting to the speed and physicality of the college game after competing at the Class 1A level in high school.

"Corey Hill is extremely talented. He's huge, and he can move," Ruebesam said. "Right now the game is fast for him. He's adjusting to the speed of the game, the size and the physicality. But he's getting better, and once it really slows down for him, you'll really be able to see his physical tools take over."

Two additional freshmen joining the ThunderWolves this season are guard Aymen Ismail (Salt Lake City, Utah/Judge Memorial Catholic) and guard Lowry Kirkland (Pueblo, Colo./Pueblo County).

Ismail, a 6-foot-3 guard, has impressed Ruebesam with his defensive potential and ability to contribute as he continues adjusting to the college game.

"Aymen is going to be a very, very good basketball player. He's going to have a great career here," Ruebesam said. "He got eight votes as one of our top five defenders in a preseason survey. As a freshman coming in and being here for a month, that's impressive."

Kirkland, a 5-foot-11 guard and local product from Pueblo County High School, has already established himself as an important teammate through his energy, effort and willingness to embrace the program's culture.

"Lowry has been awesome with his energy and his effort," Ruebesam said. "He is a connector with our group. It doesn't matter if you're a senior or a freshman, Lowry Kirkland is a friendly face that you trust. He's a very integral part of our team."

As Ruebesam enters his second season, one of the biggest points of emphasis remains the Pack's defensive identity and rebounding.

Last season, CSU Pueblo held opponents to 64.2 points per game while limiting teams to 41.1 percent shooting from the field and 31.5 percent shooting from behind the 3-point line. The ThunderWolves also outrebounded their opponents by an average of 3.4 boards per game, collecting 35.2 rebounds per contest compared to 31.8 for their opponents.

The Pack averaged 72.6 points per game last season while shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from the 3-point line. CSU Pueblo also averaged 16.2 assists per game and finished with 485 assists compared to just 336 turnovers.

Ruebesam believes this year's team has the offensive talent to score in a variety of ways, but he knows defense and rebounding must continue to serve as the foundation for the program's success.

"I'm not concerned about our offense. We're talented. We can score the basketball in a variety of different ways," Ruebesam said. "It's buying into that defense and rebounding because there's going to be a night where you can't throw it in the ocean and you go four-of-20 from three."

The Pack's players have also established several goals for the season, including finishing among the top three teams in the RMAC in offensive rebounding and going undefeated at Massari Arena.

"One that I was really proud of was trying to go undefeated at home," Ruebesam said. "The only way you can go undefeated at home is to win the first one. I think they've embraced that challenge, and they'll be ready for Midwestern on the 13th."

Another important factor for the ThunderWolves will be the team's depth and ability to receive contributions from different players throughout the season.

Ruebesam expects to utilize a deep rotation and believes the team's offensive balance will make it difficult for opponents to focus on one or two players.

"I think it's going to be very similar to last year, where it's going to be someone different every night, and I think that makes us hard to guard," Ruebesam said. "Our biggest challenge right now is can we guard at an elite level? That's our standard."

Ruebesam also wants his players to continue embracing the unselfish approach that helped the ThunderWolves succeed a season ago.

"Can we be more excited about our teammates' success than our own success if it leads to the team's success?" Ruebesam said. "Everyone on this team is capable of playing, but can we put our stuff aside and only care about the team? That's truly where you can have a really, really fun year, when no one cares who gets the credit for the success."

The ThunderWolves will also have a new look on the coaching staff this season, as Ruebesam welcomes assistant coach Ben Beauchamp and graduate assistants Sam Howery and Landen Dvorsky to his second Pack staff.

Beauchamp, a former RMAC player at Western Colorado and a Louisville, Colo., native, replaces Mike Ranson, who departed following last season to join Will Wade's coaching staff at LSU. Howery and Dvorsky both played for the Pack last season and now begin their coaching careers with the program.

Ruebesam believes the addition of Beauchamp, along with the decision to retain Howery and Dvorsky as graduate assistants, has been instrumental in maintaining the program's culture.

"Ben (Beauchamp) has been a home run for me," Ruebesam said. "He's great on the floor, he's unbelievable in the office, and one of the things I'm most proud of him for is the mentorship that he's given to our two young assistant coaches, Sam Howery and Landen Dvorsky."

Ruebesam also praised the two former players for helping the newcomers understand the standards and expectations of CSU Pueblo basketball.

"Sam and Landen have been gigantic in terms of continuing the culture that we started last year," Ruebesam said. "They're always with our guys. They're great on the court. They're both natural coaches."

The Pack will face a challenging 2026-27 schedule that features 28 regular-season games against NCAA Division II opponents, along with a nationally televised exhibition game at NCAA Division I Colorado State on Jan. 2.

Following its two home games to open the season, CSU Pueblo will travel to Denver for a non-conference game at Regis on Nov. 19 before heading to Texas for three games, beginning with a Nov. 25 contest at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

The ThunderWolves will then compete in the Thanksgiving Classic in Odessa, Texas, facing UT Permian Basin on Nov. 27 and Eastern New Mexico on Nov. 28.

CSU Pueblo opens RMAC play at home on Thursday, Dec. 3, against Fort Lewis before hosting New Mexico Highlands on Saturday, Dec. 5.

Ruebesam says the challenging non-conference schedule was put together with the NCAA Division II postseason selection process in mind and emphasizes the importance of every game throughout the regular season.

"We have 28 Division II games and then an exhibition after Christmas against Colorado State," Ruebesam said. "With the uncertainty of what the MPI is going to look like, I wanted to make sure I put our program in the best situation for success."

The Pack will also face a highly competitive RMAC schedule, including defending conference champion Black Hills State, which advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight last season.

"Until someone takes the crown from Black Hills, they are the standard right now for the league," Ruebesam said. "I think one through 15, it's going to be an improved league. There aren't going to be any nights off. You're going to have to be ready for a fight on the road and at home."

For Ruebesam, the biggest challenge this season is not necessarily improving upon last year's 22 victories, but continuing to build a sustainable program capable of competing for RMAC championships and NCAA Tournament berths.

"I honestly don't feel the expectations because this is the standard I've tried to hold myself to for as long as I can remember," Ruebesam said. "For me, it's not worrying about the results of what happened. It's trying to recreate the recipe that now is a little bit more validated because I know it works."

The Pack coach believes maintaining the program's identity, continuing to develop his players, and preparing them to handle adversity will be the keys to another successful season.

"It's sticking to that same recipe of loving them hard, coaching them really hard, defense and rebounding, bringing them together and understanding that managing people is going to be really important," Ruebesam added.

The ThunderWolves will open the season against two Lone Star Conference opponents in Midwestern State and Cameron, teams that Ruebesam expects to challenge the Pack with their athleticism, tempo and defensive pressure.

Friday's season opener against Midwestern State will feature a Mustangs team that Ruebesam expects to be talented and athletic despite coming off a disappointing season a year ago. Last season, Midwestern State, who is coached by second-year coach Jon Trilli, finished with an 8-19 overall record and a 6-14 mark in the LSC.

"I haven't gotten to watch Midwestern State yet, but I know they're going to be really talented. I know they're very well coached," Ruebesam said. "They didn't quite have the season they wanted to last year, but they're going to have dudes; they're going to have athletes. Again, as we talked about, the preseason rankings don't matter, but I know we're going to be circled on their schedule because of where we got picked and where they got picked in the Lone Star."

In the Preseason LSC poll, the Mustangs, who opened their 2026-27 season with an 85-57 home win over McMurry University, were tabbed to finish 14th as they earned 260 points in the poll voted by coaches and media members from around the league. Trilli's second team welcomes 10 newcomers and four returners from last season.

Senior guard Aric Demings, who is a transfer from West Florida, was named to the Preseason LSC Players to Watch List. Last season with the Argonauts, Demings, who is a DeSoto, Texas, native, averaged 14.8 points per game and shot 49 percent from the field, 46.3 percent from the 3-point line and 82.6 percent at the free throw line.

Among the top returners for the Mustangs are graduate student forward Charles McClennahan, Jr., and senior forward Tehshaundre Cole. McClennahan is the team's leading returning scorer from last season, as he averaged 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while Cole led the team in blocks with 24 and averaged 6.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game and shot 61.6 percent from the field.

In the season opener, Demings scored 12 points, while Cole added eight points and 10 rebounds in the victory. The Mustangs scored 50 bench points and scored 26 points off of McMurry's 20 turnovers.

Ruebesam expects the Mustangs to play at a fast pace and challenge the ThunderWolves to take care of the basketball and execute offensively against defensive pressure.

"They want to play fast. It's going to be a run-and-gun, take care of the ball, convert advantages sort of game," Ruebesam added.

Friday's opener against Midwestern State will mark the 14th meeting on the hardwood between the two schools, with the Pack holding a 7-6 edge in the series after collecting a 72-60 win last season in Wichita Falls, Texas. The Pack have won four of the last six games in the series and are opening the season with the Mustangs for the third time in the last six seasons.

Following Friday's opener, the Pack will return to Massari Arena on Saturday to face Cameron, another Lone Star Conference opponent that enters the season with a significantly different roster from a year ago.

Ruebesam had an opportunity to watch the Aggies in action during the preseason and expects Cameron to present many of the same challenges as Midwestern State, particularly with its fast-paced offensive approach and defensive pressure.

Cameron, who is coached by second-year head coach Nathan Kennedy, struggled last season as the Aggies posted a 7-21 overall record and a 4-16 mark in the LSC. In the Preseason LSC poll, Cameron was tabbed 16th as they earned 125 points. The Aggies opened the 2026-27 season with a 74-60 setback to Oklahoma City University.

Kennedy's second team was completely revamped during the offseason as the Aggies return three players, along with adding several experienced college transfers and six freshmen. The three returners from last season's team were junior guard Jake Lohman, junior guard Jonathan Mercera, and sophomore forward Sergej Jakovljevic. Mercera appeared in 20 games with two starts last season and averaged 10.3 minutes per game, while Lohman played in seven games and Jakovljevic saw action in eight games.

Among the key players for the Aggies is senior transfer guard Xavier Harris, who was named to the LSC's Players to Watch List.

Harris, who is a Northglenn, Colo., native, began his collegiate career at Western Colorado in 2023-24, before playing the 2024-25 season at Coker and then played last season at West Liberty (W.Va.) University. In his lone season at West Liberty, Harris averaged 4.4 points per game and shot 45.3 percent from the field and 79.5 percent at the free throw line.

Other key transfers are junior guard Jordan Peel, who is a transfer from Central Wyoming College, junior guard Kelsean Shields, who is a transfer from Western Oklahoma State, and sophomore forward Hannibal Smith, who is a transfer from Lawson State.

In the season opener against Oklahoma City, Harris led the way for the Aggies with 15 points, while freshman forward Kalle Kuhalampi added 14 points in his collegiate debut.

"I got a chance to watch Cameron last week on ESPN+ against Tarleton State, and they're a very new team," Ruebesam said. "They have six freshmen that are playing, but again, very, very similar in terms of the run-and-gun and how they want to play and pressure."

The Pack coach believes the team's three preseason scrimmages have helped prepare his players for the style of basketball they will face during the opening weekend.

"That's been a huge emphasis for us this preseason, and where some of our scrimmages have helped is playing against high-pressure teams and forcing us to take care of the ball and convert advantages," Ruebesam said. "I think that will be huge that first game."

With two challenging opponents to open the season and a difficult non-conference schedule throughout November, Ruebesam understands the importance of having his team prepared from the opening tip.

"Our November is difficult with Midwestern, Cameron, a non-conference game up at Regis, and then the trip to Texas," Ruebesam said. "It's going to be a great challenge for us, but I think I've embraced it, and I think our guys have embraced it. What we've just been talking about is the urgency from day one. We have to be urgent because we get 28 opportunities to do it."