National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Wichita St. 67, Colorado 58
When: 7:30 PM ET, Thursday, November 17, 2011
Where: Coliseo de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico
Officials: # Jim Burr, # Randy Heimerman, # Mike Thibodeaux
Attendance: 5322

Ben Smith and Toure’ Murry scored 17 points apiece as Wichita State never trailed in the second half en route to a 67-58 victory over Colorado on Thursday in the first round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off tournament.

Garrett Stutz had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Shockers (2-0), who have won seven straight dating back to their NIT championship season.

Wichita State will play Alabama in the semifinals on Friday while Colorado meets Maryland in the losers’ bracket.

Carlon Brown, a transfer from Utah, scored 15 points and Andre Roberson had 10 rebounds for the Buffaloes (1-1), who fell to 4-10 in their last 14 neutral court games.

The Shockers outrebounded the Buffaloes 38-27, including 11-5 on the offensive end.

Wichita State led by as many as 11 early in the second half and Colorado could only get as close as six in the final six minutes.

Smith and David Kyles combined for 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting, including 5-for-8 from 3-point range, as the Shockers closed the first half with a 9-2 run to take a 33-26 lead. Kyles’ 3-pointer with 7:51 left in the first half gave Wichita State the lead for good, 20-17.

The teams last met in 1971, but almost played for the NIT championship last season. Wichita State defeated Alabama 66-57 in the final after the Crimson Tide ousted the Buffaloes in the semifinals 62-61.

Top Game Performances
 
Wichita St.   Colorado
Toure' Murry 17 Scoring Carlon Brown 15
David Kyles 4 Assists Nate Tomlinson 3
Garrett Stutz 11 Rebounds Andre Roberson 10
Toure' Murry 3 Free Throws Made Shane Harris-Tunks 4
David Kyles 3 Steals Askia Booker 2
Carl Hall 1 Blocks Austin Dufault 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Wichita St. 67 45.0 8-23 5-8 12 38 3 10 15
Colorado 58 42.9 5-11 11-19 13 27 2 9 17