DENVER — MSU Denver battled toe-to-toe for much of the night Thursday evening but couldn't find the late push it needed, falling 67-58 to CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves at the Auraria Events Center. With the loss, the Roadrunners drop to 8-17 overall and 6-11 in RMAC play.

The contest was as tight as it looked on paper early on. The two sides were deadlocked 23-23 at halftime after three ties and four lead changes in the opening 20 minutes. Neither team led by more than a few possessions in a first half defined by defensive stops and second-chance opportunities. MSU Denver stayed aggressive in the paint and on the glass, matching Pueblo's intensity possession for possession. 

Out of the break, the ThunderWolves slowly created separation, using a key run midway through the second half to build a double-digit advantage. The Roadrunners continued to chip away, trimming the deficit to as little as one point late in the contest, but timely baskets and free throws by Pueblo in the final minutes sealed the outcome.

Four Roadrunners finished in double figures, led by Logan Threatt's 15 points. Threatt added five rebounds and a team-high three assists while attacking downhill and getting to the free-throw line in key moments. Ace Hackett recorded a double-double with 11 points and a team-best 10 rebounds, battling inside on both ends of the floor. Daniel Thomason provided a spark from beyond the arc, scoring 12 points while knocking down 3-of-4 from three-point range, and Amare Bethel added 10 points, connecting on two shots from deep.

Brian Unachukwu made his presence felt defensively with a team-high three blocks to go along with eight points and five rebounds, anchoring the paint and helping MSU Denver stay within striking distance throughout.

Despite the balanced scoring effort and a gritty performance in a game that remained contested from start to finish, the Roadrunners were unable to complete the comeback. MSU Denver will look to regroup and bounce back Saturday when it hosts Colorado Christian on Senior Day.