Boise State
4-0
Illinois State
1-2
Broncos Blast Redbirds, Advance to 'Ship
11/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CONWAY, S.C. (AP) Chandler Hutchison had 19 points and a career-high 18 rebounds Friday as Boise State beat Illinois State 82-64 to reach the championship game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off at Myrtle Beach.
The Broncos (4-0) dominated from the start and led by 25 in the first half. That came a day after they rallied from nine down in the final 3 1/2 minutes and needed Hutchison's late three-point play to beat UTEP.
Alex Hobbs added 10 points, nine rebounds and six assists for Boise State, which led by as many as 33 points and had a 57-27 rebounding advantage. Dating back to last season, Hobbs has reached double figures in eight of the last 10 games he has played in.
The 57 team rebounds ties the Puerto Rico Tip-Off record for most rebounds by a team in a game.
Outrebounding Illinois State by 30 was the largest rebounding margin for the Broncos since outrebounding Corban by 35 on Dec. 12, 2012.
The 4-0 start is the best start to a season since 2013-14 when the Broncos opened the year 8-0. Boise State has started 4-0 in three of head coach Leon Rice's eight years at the helm.
Keyshawn Evans scored 21 points for the Redbirds (1-2), who beat power-conference opponent South Carolina on Thursday. But this one got away quickly as they shot 7 of 35 from the field, including 2 of 19 on 3-pointers, before halftime.
Boise State faces the Iowa State-Tulsa winner in Sunday's final at 7:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2.
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