PUEBLO, CO -- Colorado State Pueblo proved to be too much for Western New Mexico's men's basketball team Thursday night as the Mustangs fell 73-63 to the host Thunderwolves despite a furious come-back attempt by Western. The Mustangs slide to 7-10 (3-6 RMAC) while CSUP improves to 10-7, (6-3).

Western trailed by 17 with eight minutes to go in the game before clawing back to get within six with 1:37 to go -- but the Thunderwolves did their job at the free throw line, keeping Western from completing the comeback.

"We're just not getting enough production from the guys that need to produce. We did get the ball inside some, but we were 6-of-15 from the free throw line ...they were 23-of-25 ... that's the difference in game," said Head Coach Mark Coleman.

DJ Nicholas (Glendale, AZ/Glendale High School) led Western with 14 points while Casey Crevelone (Tucson, AZ/Canyon del Oro High School) and Devon Stewart checked in with 11 and 10 point respectively.

The Mustangs will entertain the West Division's top two teams -- Fort Lewis and Mesa State -- next week in Silver City.

COLORADO ST.-PUEBLO 73, WESTERN NEW MEXICO 63
WESTERN NEW MEXICO (7-10, 3-6 RMAC) DJ Nicholas (Glendale, AZ/Glendale High School) 6-10 2-5 14; Casey Crevelone (Tucson, AZ/Canyon del Oro High School) 4-5 0-0 11; Devin Stewart (Tucson, AZ/) 3-8 4-5 10; Jason Jackson (Albuquerque, NM/Highland High School) 4-9 0-0 9; Justin Taylor (Mesa, AZ/) 3-7 0-2 6; JJ Galberth (El Paso, TX/Parkland High School) 3-3 0-2 6; Benny Reed (Spring, TX/Oakridge High School) 2-5 0-0 4; Trey Clarkson (Tucson, AZ/Sal Pointe High School) 1-9 0-0 3; Lloyd Russell (Riverside, CA/) 0-0 0-0 0; Shannon Doctor (Sierra Vista, AZ/Buena High School) 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-57 6-14 63.
COLORADO ST.-PUEBLO (10-7,6-3 RMAC) Major Willette 8-12 3-3 19; Ty McTyer 2-4 10-10 14; Jake Trahern 6-11 2-4 14; Julien Franklin 5-7 0-0 12; Brett Cloepfil 3-7 4-4 12; Brian Sewald 0-2 2-2 2; Chris Childress 0-0 0-0 0; Kelly Orchard 0-0 0-0 0; Zach Tollefson 0-0 0-0 0; Ernie Pickens 0-7 0-0 0. Totals 24-50 21-23 73.

Western New Mexico............ 28 35 - 63 
Colorado St.-Pueblo........... 33 40 - 73

3-point goals--Western New Mexico 5-16 (Casey Crevelone (Tucson, AZ/Canyon del Oro High School) 3-4; Jason Jackson (Albuquerque, NM/Highland High School) 1-5; Trey Clarkson (Tucson, AZ/Sal Pointe High School) 1-6; Justin Taylor (Mesa, AZ/) 0-1), Colorado St.-Pueblo 4-18 (Julien Franklin 2-3; Brett Cloepfil 2-6; Ernie Pickens 0-6; Ty McTyer 0-1; Major Willette 0-2). Fouled out--Western New Mexico-None, Colorado St.-Pueblo-None. Rebounds--Western New Mexico 26 (DJ Nicholas (Glendale, AZ/Glendale High School) 9), Colorado St.-Pueblo 38 (Jake Trahern 12). Assists--Western New Mexico 12 (Devin Stewart (Tucson, AZ/) 5), Colorado St.-Pueblo 11 (Ty McTyer 4). Total fouls--Western New Mexico 19, Colorado St.-Pueblo 17. Technical fouls--Western New Mexico-None, Colorado St.-Pueblo-None. A-1141