PUEBLO, Colo. – The Colorado State University Pueblo men's basketball team will look to regain momentum this week as the ThunderWolves return to Massari Arena to open a three-game Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference homestand, with contests against 13th-ranked Black Hills State and Chadron State.

CSU Pueblo will open the weekend on Thursday, Feb. 5, with a 7:30 p.m. White Out Night contest against No. 13 Black Hills State, before concluding the weekend on Saturday, Feb. 7, with a 3 p.m. match-up against Chadron State. This week's games will mark the Pack's first home contests since mid-January and their 10th and 11th games of the 2026 calendar year, as CSU Pueblo is 6-3 since the start of the New Year.

The ThunderWolves enter the week with a 13-7 overall record and are tied for fourth in the RMAC standings with a 7-5 conference mark after concluding their season-long four-game road trip with losses at Colorado Mesa (70-66) and Westminster (79-71). The Pack enters the week having won seven of its last 12 games overall and six of its last nine RMAC games as the second half of league play has gotten underway.

This week's two games will mark the 11th and 12th home games of the season for the Pack as CSU Pueblo is 8-2 at Massari Arena, including a 4-1 mark in RMAC home games, with home conference wins coming against Westminster (65-56), Colorado Christian (70-49), Colorado School of Mines (63-54), and Regis (82-57). The Pack's two home losses came against Eastern New Mexico (70-63) in non-conference play and Western Colorado (62-60) in its second home league game of the season.

ABOUT THE PACK
CSU Pueblo continues to be one of the top defensive teams in Division II men's basketball as the Pack enters this week's action leading the RMAC in scoring defense (65.4 points per game) and leads the league in both field goal percentage defense (40.8 percent) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (31.0 percent). On the season, the Pack has held 13 of its 20 opponents under 70 points, including six opponents at home.

Along with leading the RMAC in scoring defense, the Pack ranks 16th nationally in Division II in that category and continues to rank among the national leaders in defensive efficiency under first-year head coach Zach Ruebesam.

Additionally, the ThunderWolves are among the league leaders in rebound margin and scoring margin, as CSU Pueblo is averaging 36.8 rebounds per game, owns a +4.8 rebounding margin, and is outscoring opponents by +9.7 points per game in conference play.

Offensively, the Pack is averaging 73.5 points per game and is shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from the 3-point line, which ranks among the top teams in the RMAC. CSU Pueblo has recorded double-digit made three-pointers in seven games this season and continues to rank among the league leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.33, which is second in the league and 37th nationally.

The Pack offense is led by sophomore guard/forward Jordan Blair (Keller, Texas/Keller Central) and redshirt junior guard Jaden Kennis (Windsor, Colo./MSU Denver), who are both averaging double figures on the season. Blair leads the team in both scoring (14.6 ppg) and rebounding (6.8 rpg) and has scored in double figures in 17 games this season and is coming off a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds last Saturday at Westminster, while Kennis is averaging 11.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and leads the team in made free throws.

Freshman guard Bryce Riehl (Fort Collins, Colo./Mesa Ridge) has emerged as one of the top perimeter shooters in the RMAC as he enters the week leading the league in 3-point field goal percentage (50 percent) and has scored in double figures in five of his last six games, including three-straight double-digit scoring efforts.

ABOUT BLACK HILLS STATE
Black Hills State enters the week sporting a 17-3 overall record and is sitting second in the RMAC standings with a 10-2 conference mark. The Yellowjackets, who are ranked 13th in this week's latest NABC/Division II Coaches' Poll, have won four straight games and five of their last seven games overall, with the lone losses coming at MSU Denver (77-73) and at home to Fort Lewis (78-76).

BHSU is averaging 84.5 points per game and is shooting an RMAC-best 50.3 percent from the field and an RMAC-leading 38.5 percent from the 3-point line on the season. Redshirt sophomore guard Cam Lowe leads the Yellowjackets as he is averaging 18.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, while redshirt junior guard Jaeton Hackley adds 12.3 points and 4.1 assists per contest.

The Yellowjackets also lead the RMAC in 3-pointers made per game (10.3), assists (18.3), and turnovers per game (11.9), and are second in the league in scoring defense (70.5) and field goal percentage defense (41.5 percent), and are tied with the Pack for the RMAC lead in 3-point field goal defense (31.0 percent).

BHSU is coached by Ryan Thompson, who is in his eighth season with the 'Jackets and has compiled a 156-69 overall record, and has earned two RMAC Coach of the Year accolades, and led BHSU to Division II Final Four appearances in 2022 and 2023.

Thursday's game marks the only meeting this season between the two teams. Black Hills State holds a 12-8 advantage in the all-time series and has won eight of the last 10 meetings. The Yellowjackets earned a 75-70 win in last season's match-up in Spearfish.

ABOUT CHADRON STATE
Chadron State enters the weekend with a 5-15 overall record and a 3-9 RMAC mark, but is coming off an 88-79 road win at South Dakota Mines last Saturday to snap a two-game losing streak.

The Eagles have three players averaging double figures, led by Jadon Cool (14.4 ppg) and Isaiah Randolph (14.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg). As a team, CSC is averaging 72.2 points per game, while allowing 83.6 points per contest.

Chadron State is coached by Chris Francis, who is in his second season with the Eagles and has compiled a 20-29 record. Francis came to CSC after nine years as the head coach at the University of Sciences and Arts of Oklahoma, where he posted a 176-94 record and made five NAIA National Tournament appearances.

Saturday's game marks the second meeting of the season between the two schools as CSU Pueblo earned an 89-74 road win at Chadron State on Dec. 11. The Pack holds a 26-18 advantage in the all-time series and is 14-6 all-time at home against the Eagles.

UP NEXT
Following this weekend's games against Black Hills State and Chadron State, the Pack will conclude its three-game homestand on Tuesday, Feb. 10, hosting UCCS at Massari Arena for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off. The Pack collected an 82-73 win over the Mountain Lions in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Jan. 8.