SAN JUAN, P.R. -- Carlon Brown scored 23 points and Colorado defeated Western Michigan 81-76 in the seventh-place game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off tournament on Sunday.
Brown was 8 for 14 from the field and 6 for 6 from the free-throw line for the Buffaloes (2-2). Austin Dufault had 16 points and eight rebounds for Colorado, while Nate Tomlinson scored 12 and Askia Booker added 11 points. The Buffs' five-point margin at the end was their biggest lead of the game.
"This win gives us confidence and that's important in college basketball," said CU head coach Tad Boyle. "We're going to get mentally tougher for our upcoming games."
Western Michigan (0-4), which didn't lead in either of the first two games of the tournament, jumped in front 13-3 and led 35-31 at halftime. Matt Stainbrook had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Broncos. Demetrius Ward scored 16 points and Flenard Whitfield had 11 points and eight boards.
The Buffs return to action on Wednesday night as they head to Colorado Springs to play the Air Force Academy.
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