SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico —Wichita State advanced in the championship bracket with a 67-58 win against Colorado Thursday night in the Fifth Annual 5 Hour Energy Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

WSU now faces No. 16 Alabama Friday night, which the Shockers defeated, 66-57, in the 2011 National Invitation Tournament Championship in March.

WSU’s Ben Smith and Toure Murry eached scored 17 points for WSU, and were backed by Garrett Stutz’ 14 poitns and David Kyles 10 points.

Carlon Brown led Colorado with 15 points.

The two teams played even for the first 15 minutes of the first half when the game was tied at 24-24 before the Shockers went on a 7-0 run in less than two minutes to take a 31-24 lead with 3:15 left in the half and each team scored just once the remainder of the first half, 33-26.

The Shockers held the lead near double digits early in the second half, and the Buffs cut it to five points twice, first at 37-32 and then again at 40-35. Colorado cut the Shocker lead to just three midway through the second half, 50-47, after Austin Dufault made a 3-pointer.

Askia Booker made a free throw with 2:13 left to bring CU to within five points at 62-57 and the Buffs didn’t score again as the Shockers put the game away at the line with the final score, 67-58.

The Shockers improved to 2-0, while Colorado fell to 1-1.

Earlier in the day, Alabama defeated Maryland, 62-42, to advance in the championship bracket to the 8 p.m., central time Friday game with Wichita State.