Colorado blows past DePaul 82-68
HONOLULU - Askia Booker tied his career-high with 27 points and Xavier Johnson added 20 as Colorado beat DePaul 82-68 in the quarterfinals of the Diamond Head Classic on Monday.
The Buffaloes (7-3) shot 45 percent from the field and led for all but 22 seconds early in the first half.
Booker was 6-of-12 shooting from the field and 14 of 14 from the free throw line. Johnson made 6 of 14 field goals, including a pair of 3-pointers, and hit all six of his free throw attempts.
DePaul took its only lead at 2-1 just over a minute into the game before Colorado went on a 13-2 run to build a 13-point lead by the 14:40 mark in the first half.
The Blue Demons chipped away at the lead and pulled within 28-25 on Durrell McDonald's layup with 6:30 left. It a one-point game after a pair of free throws by Garrett late in the first half.
Colorado made its move early in the second half, when it turned a three-point halftime lead into a 16-point advantage within the first 6:22 after the intermission. The 17-4 run included a pair of 3-pointers - one apiece by Johnson and Booker - and was capped by Gordon's slam dunk off a behind-the-back pass from Booker.
Wesley Gordon added 11 points and Jaron Hopkins chipped in with 10 for Colorado, which was playing its first game in nine days.
Tommy Hamilton IV had 16 points and Billy Garrett, Jr. added 15 to lead the Blue Demons (6-5).
DePaul shot 33 percent from the field and dropped their fourth consecutive game after a 6-1 start this season.
Colorado led at 36-33 at halftime and led by as many as 18 points with 7:49 to play in the game.
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TIP INS
DePaul: Senior Jamee Crockett was held to four points and remained one 3-pointer shy of sole possession of 19th on the Blue Demons' career made 3-point field goal's list. Crockett has 92 makes beyond the arc in his career.
Colorado: Head coach Tad Boyle now has 99 coaching victories in his five seasons at Colorado. His last coaching stop at Northern Colorado included a Rainbow Classic tournament championship in 2009.
UP NEXT:
DePaul plays Ohio in a consolation game Tuesday.
Colorado faces George Washington in a semifinal Tuesday.