WICHITA, Kan. – Four Shockers finished in double figures and Wichita State never trailed in an 84-64 win over UTSA Wednesday night in Charles Koch Arena.Wichita State (10-13, 2-8) had fewer than 10 turnovers for the second straight game, finishing with eight and held UTSA to 5-of-22 from beyond the arc.
The Roadrunners came in averaging nearly 30 three-point attempts per game, making 10 of those.Colby Rogers scored a game-high 18 to go with six rebounds. Harlond Beverly added 16 points, six rebounds and five assists. Quincy Ballard was 4-for-5 from the field, tallying 11 points, six boards and three blocks. Xavier Bell chipped in 11 off the bench.Wichita State finished the game a perfect 15-for-15 from the free throw line and UTSA missed 12 of its 25 attempts at the line.
The Shockers limited Jordan Ivy-Curry to five points on 1-of-10 shooting. He came in averaging nearly 19 points per game.After being outrebounded at Memphis by 12, Wichita State bounced back to win the rebound battle by eight, 47-39. Wichita State's 18 assists were the second most this season.
To start the game Wichita State made its first eight shots to race out to an early 17-8 lead barely 5:00 minutes in. All five starters scored during that opening run.
That start was just was the doctor order, as the Shockers never trailed in the first half and led by double digits from the 12:40 mark on. Rogers and Beverly scored 12 points apiece in the half, tying the entire UTSA team, 24-24.
Wichita State's 44-24 halftime lead was built by 47 percent shooting, outrebounding the Roadrunners by 12 and forcing eight turnovers.UTSA is known for its three-point shooting but missed nine of its 11 attempts in the first half and shot 32 percent overall.A pair of alley-oops from Bijan Cortes to Beverly and Ballard ignited the home crowd to begin the second half, pushing the lead to 24.
There would be no second half letdown on the night, as the lead would never dip below 18 the rest of the way.
Up Next
Wichita State hosts No. 20 Florida Atlantic for a Super Bowl Sunday appetizer at 11 a.m. on ESPN2.