GUNNISON, Colo. --- The Western Colorado men's basketball team rallied from a 13-point deficit against CSU-Pueblo to take a brief lead in the second half, but eventually fell to the ThunderWolves 79-71 on Friday at Paul Wright Gym.

This was the Mountaineers' (5-9 overall, 2-6 RMAC) first loss at home this season after winning their first four games in Gunnison this season.

Trailing by nine points at 50-41 at the 13:55 mark in the second half to CSU-Pueblo (7-7, 5-3), WCU embarked on an 11-0 run that included a trio of Monroe Porter 3-pointers - the last coming with 11:31 left in the game to give the Mountaineers a 52-50 lead.

CSU-Pueblo scored on its next two possessions to take the lead back for what turned out to be for good - though WCU stayed within striking distance the rest of the contest, never by more than seven until the final minute of the contest.

Porter paced the Mountaineers with 16 points to go along with seven rebounds and two blocks. Jackson Ehrlin had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Cole Sienknecht and Avery Rembao had 13 points apiece. The Mountaineers shot 42.6 percent from the field, helped by grabbing 12 offensive rebounds that led to 17 second-chance points (CSU-Pueblo had just three offensive rebounds in the contest). The ThunderWolves made up for their lack of offensive rebounding by going 20-for-26 from the free-throw line compared to 5-for-7 for the Mountaineers.

WCU returns to action 7 p.m. Saturday as it hosts New Mexico Highlands at Paul Wright Gym.