WICHITA STATE'S HIGH-FLYING OFFENSE DIDN'T GET OFF THE GROUND UNTIL THE CLOSING MINUTES, WHEN THE SHOCKERS PLAYED LIKE THE MORE TOURNAMENT-EXPERIENCED TEAM AND PULLED AWAY TO A 64-58 VICTORY OVER DAYTON ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
THE 10TH-SEEDED SHOCKERS (31-4) WON THEIR 16TH IN A ROW _ THE SECOND-LONGEST STREAK IN SCHOOL HISTORY _ BY CLAMPING DOWN ON DEFENSE AND SWATTING AWAY SHOTS DOWN THE STRETCH. WICHITA STATE BLOCKED EIGHT SHOTS AND HELD THE SEVENTH-SEEDED FLYERS (24-8) TO A SEASON-LOW 31 PERCENT FROM THE FIELD.
ZACH BROWN'S 3-POINTER PUT WICHITA STATE UP 51-45 WITH 5:38 LEFT, THE BIGGEST LEAD BY EITHER TEAM UP TO THAT POINT, AND DAYTON NEVER THREATENED AGAIN.
LANDRY SHAMET HAD 13 POINTS.DAYTON HAD THE EXPERIENCED LINEUP, PLAYING IN ITS FOURTH STRAIGHT NCAA TOURNAMENT WITH THREE SENIOR STARTERS. POINT GUARD SCOOCHIE SMITH HAD 25 POINTS.