Sports > Wichita State Shockers

Posted on Sun, Nov. 08, 2009

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Short-handed Shockers trip Jets

BY PAUL SUELLENTROP

The Wichita Eagle

Wichita State senior guard Clevin Hannah sat on the bench in uniform and watched auditions for his backup on Saturday.

Everyone at WSU hopes the Shockers need a backup, and not a replacement for any significant length of the basketball season. The Shockers missed Hannah’s leadership and shooting during their 81-69 win over NCAA Division II Newman in an exhibition at Koch Arena.

“We survived,” WSU coach Gregg Marshall said. “I certainly would have rather had the little fellow out there. The goal is to have him back as soon as possible. I think we’re on the way to doing that.”

Hannah is sidelined for an indefinite amount of time while WSU resolves an “administrative matter concerning the certification of his amateur status” with the NCAA.

Hannah’s season is not in jeopardy, according to Marshall. WSU wants to get the issue resolved this week, although Marshall said that doesn’t necessarily mean Hannah will play in next Sunday’s opener. Those words appear to leave the door open for a suspension.

“Clevin didn’t do anything wrong — it’s paperwork,” Marshall said. “We didn’t dot the Is and cross the Ts.”

Athletic director Eric Sexton declined to be more specific regarding Hannah’s situation. He echoed Marshall’s belief that it would not be a season-ending issue. Sexton also said the matter would not affect last season’s 17-17 record.

Hannah’s drama overshadowed an entertaining game that kept most fans in the crowd of 10,228 cheering. About 350 Newman fans watched their team from Wichita’s west side frustrate the Shockers by spreading the floor and making five second-half three-pointers. The Jets also frustrated Marshall with an ability to drive past the Shockers for shots in the lane. The Jets, down by as many as 15 in the first half and 19 in the second half, refused to let WSU make it a rout.

“It’s a victory for us because we didn’t lay down and die,” Newman coach Mark Potter said. “It’s a victory because we did compete. But, it’s an exhibition game. We could have won tonight and we’ll still be 0-0.”

WSU took a 58-39 lead midway through the second half. Turnovers kept the Shockers from adding to that lead. Newman took advantage by making three straight

threes to cut the lead to 58-50. The Jet got to within seven points on a jumper by Chip Steven with 6:28 to play.

Then Toure Murry, who did much of the ball-handling in Hannah’s absence, made sure the Shockers avoided the wacky upset. He scored eight straight WSU points to build the lead to 72-61. Newman didn’t get closer than nine points in the final two minutes.

“We were going too fast,” Murry said. “J.T. Durley came in said, ‘Slow down,’ and we did.”

Murry led all scorers with 16 points, 10 in the final six minutes. Murry committed four turnovers, sometimes forcing the play too much in Marshall’s eyes.

“Decisions are his biggest key right now,” Marshall said. “He loves the ball in his hands.”

Freshman Demetric Williams also did well in his audition to play point. He scored 11 points in 19 minutes, although three turnovers reminded everyone he is still learning.

“I could do a lot better, but it was a good first start,” Williams said. “I got up and down the court a couple times and got a little comfortable.”

Marshall liked Williams’ public debut (he didn’t play at Shocker Madness) well enough to start him after halftime and play him in the final three minutes. Williams

played the most minutes of WSU’s four freshmen.

“He may have emerged tonight as a guy, along with Murry, who could help us backing up Clevin Hannah,” Marshall said.

Marshall played a lot of different lineups. He combined his freshmen — Williams, Jerome Hamilton, Tyler Richardson and Kenny Manigault — with sophomore center Garrett Stutz in the first half. That group slowed WSU after it went up 19-8. Both teams went deep into their bench in the first half, producing an uneven 20 minutes. The Shockers took an 8-1 lead and built that up to 19-8 on six straight points by Stutz.

When Marshall went back to his veterans, the scoring resumed. Junior Graham Hatch made a three for a 26-11 lead.

WSU out-rebounded the smaller Jets 43-20. The Shockers made 16 of 18 free throws, an encouraging stat for a team that shot 68.6 percent from the line last season.

Steven led the Jets with 15 points, making 3 of 6 three-pointers. Jaray Mathews and Keaton Schultz each added 12.

Notes — Marshall said he learned of Hannah’s predicament on Thursday.ć.ć.ć. Freshman forward Jerome Hamilton will redshirt, Marshall said. Hamilton played four minutes on Saturday. Marshall may redshirt another player, he said.ć.ć.ć. WSU sophomore Mason Felter, a walk-on, said he is academically ineligible for the first semester.ć.ć.ć. Newman graduate assistant Kurt Bangle redshirted at WSU in 2004-05 before transferring to Mesa (Colo.) State.ć.ć.ć. Murry and Newman’s Jordan Honore received technical fouls in the second half after they got tangled up twice. Murry wrapped up Honore to force a jump ball. A few seconds later, Honore was called for a foul while trying to tie up Murry. The two exchanged words.

NEWMAN (69)

Min Fg-a Ft-a R A TO F TP

Mathews 25 5-9 1-2 3 3 4 4 12

Berry 23 1-5 0-0 1 0 0 0 2

Darby 26 2-8 1-1 2 3 1 1 5

Steven 20 4-9 4-5 1 0 0 1 15

Northington 23 2-4 4-9 2 2 4 3 8

Schultz 21 4-7 2-2 1 0 1 0 12

Nordman 17 4-5 0-0 2 1 0 2 9

Brumbelow 14 1-4 0-0 1 0 0 0 2

Jackson 12 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 1 0

Hansen 10 1-1 0-0 2 0 1 1 2

Mesh 6 1-2 0-0 1 1 0 3 2

Honore 3 0-0 0-0 0 0 1 3 0

Trilli 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0

Arel 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0

Mokeski 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals 200 25-54 12-19 20 11 12 19 69

Team reb. 3

Percent 46.3 63.2

WICHITA STATE (81)

Min Fg-a Ft-a R A TO F TP

Hatch 27 4-7 2-2 5 3 3 2 13

Ellis 11 1-3 0-0 0 0 1 2 2

Durley 26 3-7 1-2 9 5 2 3 8

Kyles 27 3-8 0-0 1 2 0 2 7

Murry 24 5-8 6-6 5 5 4 3 16

Stutz 20 6-7 0-0 7 0 2 2 12

Williams 19 4-7 3-4 2 1 3 0 11

Blair 19 3-6 2-2 4 0 1 1 8

Manigault 12 1-4 0-0 2 1 1 1 2

Richardson 11 0-2 2-2 2 0 2 0 2

Hamilton 4 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 0

Totals 200 23-59 16-17 31 17 13 16 67

Team reb. 6

Percent 50.8 88.9

Newman 28 41 — 69

Wichita State 39 42 — 81

Three-point shooting—Newman 7-19 (Steven 3-6, Schultz 2-5, Nordman 1-2, Mathews 1-3, Northington 0-1, Mesh 0-1, Darby 0-1), Wichita St. 5-15 (Hatch 3-5, Durley 1-2, Kyles 1-3, Richardson 0-1, Williams 0-2, Murry 0-2). Blocks—Newman 1 (Mathews), Wichita St. 2 (Durley, Blair). Steals—Newman 9 (Darby 2, Honore 2, Jackson, Steven, Northington, Mathews, Nordman), Wichita St. 5 (Hatch, Durley, Murry, Blair, Hamilton). Technicals—Honore, Murry. Officials—Warren Evans,

Winston Stith, Steve Heiman. A—10,228.