CSU Pueblo CSU-P 10-10,6-8 RMAC

Regis (CO) Regis 9-10,6-7 RMAC

CSU Pueblo CSU-P

10-10,6-8 RMAC

Final

Jan. 27, 2023

Regis (CO) Regis

9-10,6-7 RMAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
CSU Pueblo CSU-P	33	36	69
Regis (CO) Regis	34	36	70

Summary
Box Score

Billy Saunders, Regis Athletics

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | Jan 27 | David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications

Rangers knock off CSU Pueblo in Friday night thriller

DENVER, Colo. — The Regis University men's basketball team opened its weekend home stand in style Friday, grinding out a crucial, 70-69, thriller against Colorado State University Pueblo inside the Regis Fieldhouse.

Fitting, it would be a Pueblo native who would lead the way for the Rangers (9-10 overall, 6-7 RMAC) as graduate student guard David Simental, a former two-time All-RMAC player with CSU Pueblo (10-10 overall, 6-8) would sink what proved to be the game-winning free throw with 3.4 seconds remaining.

"Every game is important right now with us battling against 6-7 different teams for playoff positioning and CSU Pueblo is one of them. Just a huge effort on our guys' part," said Regis head men's basketball coach, Brady Bergeson. "It was a tough game that came right down to the end and I'm really pleased we were able to find a way to get it done."

HOW IT HAPPENED: Friday's game was a battle from the opening tip as neither team held a lead larger than seven points and the evening featured nine ties and 10 total lead changes.

The visiting ThunderWolves put themselves in a position to pull out the road win, erasing a 68-65 lead for the Rangers with back-to-back buckets during the final 60 seconds, taking a 69-68 lead with 20 ticks remaining on a turnaround jumper by Meekness Payne.

Regis would respond its next trip down though as Simental created off the bounce, shot faked a defender and drew a shooting foul with 3.4 seconds remaining with a chance to put the Rangers back on top.

Simental, a standout at CSU Pueblo from 2019-2021, would torment his hometown team as he calmly sank the two free throws for two of his 17 second-half points. He'd finish the evening with a game-high 21 on 6-for-12 shooting and a spotless 7-for-7 mark at the free-throw line.

"I'm sure that meant a lot to David. CSU Pueblo did a great job making everything he got difficult and, obviously, teams are keying on him, defensively. He got off to a slow start, but he is a very determined kid and found a way to help us," Bergeson said of Simental. "I'm really happy for him because I'm sure that game-winner meant a good deal against his hometown team."

While it was Simental who swished the game-winner, sophomore forward Brayden Carter was the Rangers big X-Factor on Friday as he tied his career-high with 18 points while shooting a perfect 8-for-8 from the field.

Carter would add seven rebounds, a career-high four assists and was a team-best +23 in the plus-minus column in his 29 minutes.

"He did a little bit of everything for us. He was tremendous," Bergeson said of Carter. "He gave us good work inside, good work outside, he'd kick the ball out, he was unselfish and everybody loves playing with that. CSU Pueblo is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the league and Brayden was a big part in helping us keep them off the glass against some big, physical guys that are hard to block out."

GAME NOTES:

Regis limited CSU Pueblo to just five offensive rebounds Friday and dominated second-chance points, 11-1.
The Rangers held a major advantage at the free-throw line, shooting 17-for-19 (89.5%) compared to the ThunderWolves' 9-for-15 mark (60%).
CSU Pueblo shot 50% (27-for-54) from the field, edging the Rangers at 48% (23-for-48).
Redshirt junior guard Eddy Egun was the third Ranger in double-figures Friday with 11 points, adding two blocks, two rebounds and a steal.
Senior forward Aaron Bokol grabbed a team-high nine rebounds to go with his seven points.

UP NEXT: The Rangers will look to sweep the weekend when they host New Mexico Highlands University at 3 p.m. Saturday inside the Regis Fieldhouse. The Cowboys (8-12 overall, 6-8 RMAC) are coming off a 99-94 overtime road win against UCCS on Friday.

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