WICHITA, KAN. - Wichita State compiled a 7-0 run to cut Nevada's lead to two points late in the second half, but the Shockers were unable to complete the comeback. The sixth-seeded Nevada Wolf Pack went on to a 74-70 win Wednesday in the first round of the NIT at Charles Koch Arena.

The third-seeded Shockers' season ended with their first home loss of the season in front of a crowd of 9,112. Wichita State finished with a 25-10 record overall, including a 17-1 home record, and with their 19th postseason appearance.

The Wolf Pack (21-12), who compete in the WAC, advanced to play Rhode Island in the second round of the NIT. Rhode Island defeated Northwestern, 76-64, Wednesday in a first round game at Kingston, R.I.

Wichita State trailed by four points with 18 seconds remaining in regulation and missed its final three field goal attempts of the game.

The Wolf Pack made 17-of-18 free throws in the win, shooting 94.4 percent from the line. Nevada sophomore forward Luke Babbitt finished 9-for-9 from the line and helped seal the win with two free throws with 18 seconds left in the game.

Babbitt led all scorers with 23 points. Sophomore guard Toure' Murry paced Wichita State with 15 points. Junior guard Graham Hatch posted 14 points for the Shockers.

Nevada built up a 7-2 lead in the first 3:33 of the game, blocking three Wichita State shots, picking up two steals and forcing three Shocker turnovers early. The Wolf Pack held Wichita State to 1-of-8 shooting to open the game.

A three-pointer from Shocker senior guard Clevin Hannah cut the Wolf Pack's lead to two points less than seven minutes into the game, but Nevada responded with two free throws from Babbitt and a three-pointer from Ray Kraemer to extend out to a 14-7 lead with 12 minutes left in the half.

Wichita State's Murry boosted the Shockers' offense, picking up his own rebound off a missed three-pointer and bringing the Shockers to within three points on the layup that followed. The Shockers forced a turnover at the other end of the court with a steal from JT Durley, which eventually led to a three-pointer from Hatch to tie the game, 15-15, and ignite the crowd with 9:59 remaining before halftime. Freshman guard Demetric Williams' three-pointer with 9:11 remaining in the half gave the Shockers their first lead of the game.

The two teams went on to exchange the lead, exiting the first half tied, 31-31, after a jumper from Nevada's Armon Johnson with .02 seconds left in the opening period.

Murry led all scorers with 10 first-half points, as the Shockers outrebounded Nevada, 23-13. Sophomore center Garrett Stutz paced the field with six rebounds in the first 20 minutes of play.

Nevada put together a 9-0 run early in the second half to extend to a 42-35 lead. A three-pointer from Hatch, followed by a Hatch steal and dunk from Gabe Blair cut the lead to two points with 15:06 left in the game.

The Wolf Pack later extended out to a 10-point lead midway through the half.

The Shockers later responded from a nine-point deficit with a 7-0 run in a span of about two minutes to cut the lead to, 66-64, with 4:27 left in the game.

Wichita State outrebounded the Wolf Pack, 36-30, overall. Nevada finished the game shooting 50 percent and the Shockers shot

42.4 percent overall.Nevada's win evened the all-time series between the two teams, 1-1. The Shockers won the previous meeting Dec. 16, 1970 in Wichita.

- Wichita State -