CONWAY, S.C. -- Wesley Myers and Chris Silva each scored 14 points to help South Carolina beat Western Michigan 79-66 in Sunday's fifth-place game at the relocated Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
The Gamecocks (4-1) led 35-34 at the break, but upped their defensive intensity to harass the Broncos into mistakes. South Carolina ran off 14 unanswered points during a 17-1 run while holding Western Michigan without a basket for nearly 8 1/2 minutes.
That turned a one-point edge into a 57-40 margin on Kory Holden's 3-pointer with 10:02 left. South Carolina led by double figures from there.