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2010 MVC Tournament: Wichita State vs Drake Basketball Recap
(2) Wichita State 73, (7) Missouri State 63
Don't let the final score fool you: This was a much tougher game than the numbers indicated.
Wichita State - which has forcefully and thoroughly fallen out of consideration for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid - must capture Arch Madness in order to get a Dance card. For the first 34 minutes of Friday night's game against Missouri State, coach Gregg Marshall's group seemed to be headed to the NIT. With the seventh-seeded Bears leading 56-52 and dictating the tempo of this tussle with just over six minutes left in regulation time, Wichita needed to change the flow of action at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
Sure enough, that's just what the Shockers were able to do.
Wichita State might not have dynamic scorers, but it made just enough plays at the offensive end to outlast coach Cuonzo Martin's Bears. WSU's playmaking guards - Clevin Hannah and Toure Murry - were repeatedly able to drive the ball to the rim down the stretch, and as a result, the Shockers made many visits to the foul line. The element of free throw shooting which demands an extra bit of emphasis is that a team can't just earn many attempts; it needs to make those standstill 15-footers in order for an opponent's foul trouble to matter. Hannah and Murry combined to hit 12 of 12 foul shots in the final 6:12 of regulation, and with two other Shockers also downing free throws, it became clear that Wichita State made the most of the opportunities it was given.
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The two key sequences in this game were as follows: First, with the score tied at 60 and just 1:23 remaining on the clock, Missouri State's Kyle Weems fouled Hannah with only six seconds on the shot clock. This cheap foul allowed Hannah to hit two free throws and give WSU a 62-60 advantage.
The second big sequence of this game came when Wichita - clinging to a 62-61 lead with 51 seconds left - received a timely "and one" from center Garrett Stutz. The basket, combined with a made foul shot on the back end, allowed the second seed to build a 65-61 lead in the final minute. When Missouri State couldn't respond with a basket on its next few possessions, the Bears lost crucial leverage in their attempt to pull the huge upset. As the Bears fouled and fouled with more desperation each time, the margin of defeat grew larger for Cuonzo Martin's crew. It all started with that cheap foul at the 1:23 mark of regulation.
The Shockers were in no position to complain.
What's Next
Missouri Valley Semifinal #2 - Saturday
Wichita State will take on Illinois State in a matchup of great guards. While Hannah and Murry carry the load for the Shockers, ISU's Osiris Eldridge is a handful for any defensive club. The team that can get more production at the foul line and receive meaningful contributions from post players is more likely to advance. The importance of an aggressive, attacking style also means that the Shockers and Redbirds will need to avoid falling in love with the long ball. Neither WSU nor Illinois State can afford to hoist too many threes early in the shot clock.
By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Staff Writer
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