SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Wichita State went on a 7-0 late in the first half to take a 31-24 lead against Colorado on Thursday night and the Shockers rode it to a 67-58 victory in the first round of the fifth annual Puerto Rico Shootout.
The Buffs cut the Shocker lead to 50-47 midway through the second half after Austin Dufault made a 3-pointer.
Trailing 62-57 with 2:13 left in the game, the Buffs didn’t score again as the Shockers put away the game.
“I thought tonight’s game was one we let slip away,” Buffs coach Tad Boyle said. “I give WSU the credit because they are good but I do think it was one that we let slip away.”
Colorado senior guard Carlon Brown scored a career-high 15 points and had four rebounds, and sophomore Andre Roberson had 10 rebounds and four points. The guard Roberson had 15 rebounds in the season-opener.
CU freshman walk-on Beau Webb and freshman Askia Booker made their first collegiate starts. The Buffs were 21-of-49 from the field (5-of-11 from 3-point range) and were outrebounded 38-28. Colorado was just 11-of-19 from the free-throw line.
“We tell our guys all the time in practice, the importance of the box out and I believe that was critical in this game,” Boyle said. “One of the strengths of our team last year was going to the free throw line 28-30 a game.”
The Buffs (1-1) will play Friday against Maryland at 4:30 p.m.
