Boise State uses first-half run to get by Colorado

Marcus Shaver Jr. scored 20 points and Boise State's defense did the rest in a 68-55 win over Colorado on Sunday in the consolation championship game at the Myrtle Beach Invitational in Conway, S.C.

Boise State (3-2) won its final two games in the tournament after losing to Charlotte in the opening round. In Sunday's victory, the Broncos took charge in the middle of the first half and built an eight-point lead by halftime. Colorado had its chances down the stretch, but missed three free throws, a layup and a 3-pointer over a span of 1:10 late in the game.

Tyson Degenhart added 14 points for the Broncos, while Naje Smith hit for 10. Boise State won despite making just 7 of its 29 shots in the second half.

KJ Simpson led Colorado (3-3) with 14 points. The Buffaloes shot only 26.7 percent after halftime and missed 10 free throws in the game.

The Broncos ruled the middle part of the first half, sprinting away to build a 30-19 lead after a jumper by Shaver with 6:11 to play. Colorado responded with a 9-3 run to cut its deficit to four points when Javon Ruffin hit a 3-pointer with 2:59 remaining.

Boise State scored six of the final seven points of the half, capped by a 3-pointer by Degenhart with five seconds left, to produce a 41-33 advantage at the break.

Shaver led all players with 11 points in the first half, with Smith adding 10 for the Broncos. Boise State took 10 more shots (33-23) than the Buffaloes over the first 20 minutes and made six more, while going 7 of 13 from beyond the arc.

Ruffin and Tristan da Silva led Colorado with seven points apiece over the first 20 minutes of action.

Both teams struggled with their shooting over the first 10 minutes of the second half, but Boise State did enough to keep the Buffaloes from whittling into its lead.