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PUEBLO, Colo. - Metro State built a 17-point second half lead and withstood a late run as the Roadrunners defeated Colorado State-Pueblo 70-61 on Friday in the RMAC Shootout semifinals at the State Fairgrounds Events Center in Pueblo.  The Roadrunners improved to 23-6 overall, while the ThunderWolves will likely finish their season with a 17-11 record.

Metro State shot 45.8 percent and held CSUP to just 39.7 percent from the floor, while forcing 19 turnovers.  The Roadrunners also had a 36-34 rebounding advantage, including 17 offensive boards that led to 20 second chance points.  Neither team found a rhythm from the outside as Metro State made just 1-of-8 from beyond the arc and CSU-Pueblo hit just 4-of-25.

Donte Nicholas (Washington, D.C./Oakton H.S.) scored a game-high 19 points, hitting 9-of-12 at the free throw line and 5-of-9 from the floor.  He also added five rebounds and three assists.

Reggie Evans (Aurora, Colo./Rangeview H.S.) scored 16 points and pulled down seven rebounds.  Jonathan Morse (Boulder, Colo./Fairview H.S.) added 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds, while Brian Minor (Clovis, Calif./Clovis H.S.) had 13 points, three assists, three steals and two rebounds.

The Roadrunners jumped out to an 8-point lead with under 10 minutes left in the first half as Morse and Nicholas each scored six.

CSUP got right back in the game, taking a 1-point lead at 24-23 after an 11-2 run.  But the Roadrunners regrouped and took a 36-28 lead into halftime.  Nicholas and Morse each had 10 points at the break, while Metro State held CSUP to just 37.0 percent shooting.

Metro State scored the first seven points of the second half to lead 43-28 after a pair of easy baskets by Nicholas and a 3-pointer by Minor.  The Roadrunners stretched their lead to 53-36, their largest lead of the game, with 12 minutes left in the game following a layup by Morse.

Nicholas picked up his fourth foul with 9:49 left in the game, forcing Metro State's leading scorer to the bench.  The ThunderWolves went on a 6-0 run over the next three minutes, but strong defense by the Roadrunners held the lead at nine points until the five minute mark when they opened a 6-0 run of their own to take control again.  CSUP went nearly five minutes without a point.

Metro State made 6-of-6 at the line in the final 1:08 to seal the win.

The Roadrunners will face the winner of New Mexico Highlands and Colorado Christian in the RMAC Shootout championship game at 5 p.m. on Saturday.  Metro State won the tournament last year and have won eight championships in 13 years (not including 2009-10) as a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.