Thomas Wilder scored 31 points, 24 in the second half when Western Michigan took control to defeat Appalachian State 86-67 on Friday night in the consolation bracket of the relocated Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
The tournament was relocated due to the effects of hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico.
Bryce Moore broke the 40-40 halftime tie with a 3-pointer and Wilder had seven points in a 15-0 run. The Mountaineers missed their first seven shots and closed within 68-61 on a Ronshad Shabazz layup with 6:07 to go. Then the Broncos reeled off an 11-0 run, the first six points from Wilder, to ice the game.
Western Michigan shot 50 percent in the second half and made 15 of 19 free throws. Wilder was 12 of 14 from the line.
Moore finished with 14 points and seven rebounds for the Broncos (2-1) and Brandon Johnson scored 12.
Shabazz finished with 25 points and Justin Forrest came off the bench to add 13 points for the Mountaineers (1-2), who shot 31 percent after halftime.
