How Wichita State basketball pulled away for opening win in Greece exhibition tour
A poster dunk from Wichita’s own Xavier Bell highlighted a win for the Wichita State men’s basketball team in its first exhibition game in Greece on Friday.
After a competitive first half with the Thessaloniki All-Stars, it didn’t take long for the Shockers to pull away for a comfortable 76-60 win in Thessaloniki, Greece, to kick off a three-game exhibition tour over the next week.
With no way to watch or follow along with live stats, Wichita State fans were left constantly refreshing the social media feed of WSU athletic director Kevin Saal, who posted a steady stream of Shocker highlights during the game.
None were more impressive than the play made by Bell to conclude the first half. With the score tied at 36, the 6-foot-3 guard and Andover Central product dribbled off of a screen set by Quincy Ballard, exploded down the right side of the lane and elevated to throw down a left-handed tomahawk jam over a defender.
Bell has been thrust into playing point guard for the Shockers this summer, as OU transfer Bijan Cortes, who traveled with the team but cannot play, continues to sit out practices as he progresses to become academically eligible for the upcoming season. WSU was also without walk-on point guard Trevor McBride, who is in a walking boot after a severe sprained ankle.
The debut of Bell running the show for the Shockers was seemingly a success, as he scored 15 points and helped spur the double-digit victory in the second half.
Sharpshooter Colby Rogers led the team in scoring with 16 points, which included a handful of 3-pointers, while 7-foot junior center Quincy Ballard used his size advantage to dunk his way to 14 points. A complete box score was not kept for the game, which was played in four quarters with a 24-second shot clock and FIBA rules.
First-year coach Paul Mills gave a nod to the returning players on WSU’s roster, as Bell started alongside Rogers, Jalen Ricks, Kenny Pohto and Ballard — all five of whom were with the Shockers last season. The only player to not make the trip was 6-11 center Jacob Germany, a fifth-year transfer from UTSA, who was a late cancellation on the trip due to a family issue.
It was difficult to discern much else with no play-by-play or ability to watch, but Saal’s clips posted online revealed a few other notable things.
Missouri State graduate transfer Dalen Ridgnal, who signed with WSU on the same day the team left for its international trip, not only played, but knocked down a corner 3-pointer in what could be a preview of things to come in a WSU uniform. He connected on 37% of his 3-pointers last season and Mills envisions Ridgnal, 6-7, to be able to play both forward positions for WSU this season.
The Shockers outscored the Thessaloniki All-Stars 25-9 during the third quarter and one clip posted by Saal during the onslaught will surely make Mills proud.
The possession began with Bell finding Pohto in the middle of the 2-3 zone defense, which collapsed the zone and led to a kick-out to Harlond Beverly, who immediately swung it back to Bell at the top of the key. Bell kept the ball moving to Isaac Abidde on the opposite wing and he passed up a good shot to upgrade to a great shot for his teammate, Joy Ighovodja, wide open in the corner. The Nigerian freshman ended the possession with a swish from a smooth, left-handed release.
WSU will now do some sight-seeing in Greece and ultimately end up in Zografou, where the team will play the University of Calgary twice in a three-day span early next week. The games are scheduled for noon Central time on Monday and Wednesday.
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