Box Score LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Only four of 11 field goals in the second half (36.4 percent) were inside for the ThunderWolves in a loss to the Cowboys in December. CSU-Pueblo did the exact opposite in game two in a big second half for the visitors.
The New Mexico Highlands University men's basketball (10-8, 7-7 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) got out to an early 11-point lead, but CSU-Pueblo (10-8, 8-6 RMAC) rallied for a halftime lead and raced out to a 99-81 win Friday night (Jan. 31) at the John A. Wilson Complex.
The Cowboys ran out to a 20-9 early lead in the first half until a jumper and three-pointer quickly brought the deficit down to six. Highlands pushed it back out to 11, 38-27, on a pair of free throws from senior
Mannie Cass.
Although CSU-Pueblo made seven first half triples, it was five-straight buckets from inside the arc while the Highlands offense was stymied as the visitors pulled within one. Both teams traded shots before a missed jumper by the ThunderWolves' Nathan Tigner was corralled by Wendell Lee. Lee flushed it at the buzzer to give CSU-Pueblo the 44-43 lead into the lockeroom, its first advantage since the opening shot of the game.
Four different Cowboys reached double digits, led by senior
Stuart Sullivan's 19. Classmate
Stargell Love had 17 while senior
Lavell McDade chipped in 14.
Cass finished with 11 points and a team-best seven boards.
The inside game of the Cowboys dominated the ThunderWolves inside in the second half in Pueblo in December, but the ThunderWolves flipped the script Friday night. CSU-Pueblo out-rebounded the Cowboys 15-11 and made 13-17 (76.5 percent) from inside the arc.
The ThunderWolves also went 4-8 (50 percent) from beyond the arc in the second half.
The Cowboys trailed 66-63 when 10 unanswered put the game into a double-digit lead for the visitors. Tyrone Marshall started with a lay-up, before a Lee steal hit Julian Caldwell for a fast break lay-up. Caldwell hit another jumper before Marshall added a dunk to push the lead to 11. Two free throws by Marshall capped the run.
All five starters for the ThunderWolves reached double-digits. Caldwell etched 26 while Marshall and Matt Rosenbaum added 19. Tigner finished with a double-double of 17 points and 12 assists with no turnovers.
The New Mexico Highlands basketball team returns to action tomorrow (Feb. 1) against UC-Colorado Springs. Game time is approximately 8 p.m.
