ThunderWolves can't solve Metro State

No. 12 Metro State 87, CSU-Pueblo 72

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - The ThunderWolves remained unable to solve conference foe Metro State Friday, falling to the Roadrunners 87-72 at the Clarion Inn Classic at Mesa State College in Grand Junction.

The ThunderWolves couldn't keep up with the Roadrunners offensively, who hit 55 percent of their shots from the floor, compared to a healthy but inadequate 45 percent from the floor for the Pack.  Metro State only recorded two three-pointers, getting most of their points on high-percentage shots in the paint.  Leading the charge for the Roadrunners was a 27-point effort by Reggie Evans

The ThunderWolves started fast, taking a 14-4 lead on the Roadrunners to open the first half.  But Metro State went on an 11-0 run to take a 15-14 lead, and failed to hold anything more than a two-point lead for the remainder of the game.

Pack guards Donell Wells (Jr., Denver, Colo.) and Roman Van Allen (Sr., Los Angeles, Calif.), each of which were 0-for last week in the Pack's season-opening win over UC-San Diego, provided the bulk of the Pack's offense against Metro State.  Van Allen turned in a team-leading 18 points, sinking three three-pointers while Wells added 10 points.  Chris Busch (Sr., Oakland, Calif.) also put up 16 points and Marc Williams (Sr., Seattle, Wash.) added 11.

But the key to Metro State's win was in its relatively mistake-free play, cutting off the Pack's strength of transition defense.  After forcing 17 steals last week, the Pack only forced two steals against the Roadrunners.  Overall, Metro State committed just 11 turnovers.

CSU-Pueblo's loss marks the 13th straight loss to Metro State, dating back to 1998.  The ThunderWolves' losing streak to the Roadrunners is their longest against any team in the RMAC.

CSU-Pueblo, now 1-1 on the young season, will close out the Clarion Inn Classic Saturday when they take on NAIA power Central Methodist.