Shocker report (March 23) | The Wichita Eagle

Saturday’s box score

Wichita St. 76, Gonzaga 70

WICHITA ST.	Min	FG-A	FT-A	OR-TR	A	PF	PT
Armstead	37	2-9	1-2	0-5	3	1	6
Orukpe	15	1-2	0-1	1-1	0	2	2
Hall	29	3-6	4-8	1-1	2	3	10
Baker	33	5-7	2-2	3-6	4	2	16
Cotton	25	3-5	0-0	1-3	2	2	8
Lufile	1	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	1	0
Williams	7	0-1	0-0	0-0	1	2	0
Early	24	6-11	0-0	2-7	1	4	16
Van Vleet	20	3-6	5-5	0-1	3	1	13
White	9	2-3	0-0	1-3	0	4	5
Totals	200	25-50	12-18	10-30	16	22	76

Percentages: FG .500, FT .667. 3-Point Goals: 14-28, .500 (Baker 4-6, Early 4-7, Cotton 2-3, Van Vleet 2-4, White 1-1, Armstead 1-6, Williams 0-1). Team Rebounds: 3. Blocked Shots: 6 (Hall 3, Early 2, Orukpe). Turnovers: 15 (Hall 3, Armstead 3, Orukpe 2, White 2, Early 2, Lufile, Baker, Van Vleet). Steals: 8 (Armstead 2, Cotton 2, Early, Baker, Van Vleet, Hall). Technical Fouls: None.

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GONZAGA	Min	FG-A	FT-A	OR-TR	A	PF	PT
Pangos	39	6-17	3-5	0-0	5	4	19
Bell, Jr	21	0-2	0-0	0-2	0	0	0
Olynyk	38	8-22	10-14	6-9	2	1	26
Harris	35	2-8	7-8	4-7	1	2	12
Hart	27	2-3	0-0	7-14	1	4	6
Dranginis	8	0-0	0-0	0-1	1	1	0
Stockton	17	2-2	0-0	2-2	3	0	4
Dower	6	0-2	0-0	0-0	0	3	0
Barham	9	1-3	0-2	1-1	0	2	3
Totals	200	21-59	20-29	21-39	13	17	70

Percentages: FG .356, FT .690. 3-Point Goals: 8-23, .348 (Pangos 4-12, Hart 2-2, Barham 1-2, Harris 1-2, Bell, Jr. 0-1, Dower 0-1, Olynyk 0-3). Team Rebounds: 3. Blocked Shots: 2 (Dower, Olynyk). Turnovers: 13 (Pangos 4, Olynyk 4, Harris 3, Bell, Jr., Dower). Steals: 8 (Harris 3, Pangos 3, Barham, Olynyk). Technical Fouls: None.

Wichita St.

3640–76Gonzaga 31 39 – 70

Att.–16,060. Officials–John Higgins, Brian Dorsey, John Gaffney.

Get up early

As in Thursday’s win over Pittsburgh, Wichita State showed the higher-seeded team immediately it could hang.

Cleanthony Early’s three-pointer, in a sign of things to come, put the Shockers up 10-5.

A three by Ron Baker provided WSU’s largest lead of the half, 26-13. Gonzaga rallied, again using offensive rebounds as a weapon. Kevin Pangos started the rally with a three. Kelly Olynyk made two free throws, after a flagrant foul on Ehimen Orukpe for an elbow, with 5:16 to play. Elias Harris’ three cut the lead to 29-22. Harris followed that with an offensive rebound.

Gonzaga closed to within 34-31 before a tip at the buzzer gave the Shockers a 36-31 halftime lead.

WSU made 7 of 15 threes and 14 of 29 shots in the first half. Gonzaga out-rebounded WSU 21-14 and scored 13 second-chance points off 11 offensive rebounds.

Early scored eight points in the first half, helping WSU to a 16-0 edge from the bench. Olynyk scored 13, although shooting 4 of 11. Mike Hart grabbed eight rebounds, four on the offensive glass.

White in

Shocker sophomore Jake White provided an unexpected boost from long range in the first half. He made his first-three-pointer since Dec. 30 _ and his third this season _ to give the Shockers a 29-19 lead.

He did more familiar work at the end of the half, reaching over a Bulldog to tip in a missed shot at the buzzer. After looking at the video, referee John Higgins signaled to count the basket and WSU led 36-31 at halftime.

Bell out

Gonzaga guard Gary Bell Jr. played only two second-half minutes after complaining of a foot injury at halftime.

“He just couldn’t go,” coach Mark Few said. “That didn’t help us defensively. He is our best perimeter defender.”

Worth noting

WSU made 14 threes and 11 two-point shots.… WSU’s bench outscored Gonzaga’s 34-7.… The Shockers improved to 10-10 in the NCAA Tournament and 2-0 vs Gonzaga.…Gonzaga dropped to 18-16 and became the first No. 1 seed to lose in this season’s tournament.

 

— Paul Suellentrop