The RoundHouse | 1/3/2019 11:35:00 PM

Wichita State needed patient, efficient offense that set up its defense to force the Tigers to work against the shot clock. Memphis needed to make Thursday's game about a fast tempo and turnovers as much as possible.
 
The Shockers committed 15 turnovers, which isn't an unforgivable number in a high-scoring game. Memphis defeated Wichita State 85-74 at FedExForum with a box scored defined by 16 layups, two dunks, a continuation of a season-long ability to draw fouls and 44 points in the paint.
 
Not all turnovers are equally bad and the Shockers committed too many of the worst kind -  giveaways that helped Memphis use its speed for easy baskets and fouls. Throw in some ill-advised shots and the Shockers too often gave Memphis an assist. The Tigers scored 20 points off Shocker turnovers and that is too much of a burden for Wichita State to overcome.
 
The Tigers made 50 percent of their shots and outscored Wichita State 25-6 at the foul line. The Shockers went 10 for 33 from three-point range and didn't give the referees many chances to put them at the line.
 
Wichita State center Jaime Echenique scored eight points in 18 minutes. He again showed that the Shockers are a different team when he is on the court. Foul trouble cut into his minutes and his absence is difficult for the Shockers to deal with. He scored six of those points early in the second half to help the Shockers cut a 12-point deficit to five. 
 
Freshman Isaiah Poor Bear Chandler scored a season-high 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting and provided another glimpse of his offensive skills. Freshman Dexter Dennis scored 12 points in his return after missing two games while in the concussion protocol. Chandler is thrown into the fire with a foot injury perhaps limiting Echenique and a shoulder injury sidelining Morris Udeze. Dennis possesses the two-way skills to help the Shockers immensely and his progress will be key to the remainder of the season.
 
Markis McDuffie scored 19 points on 7-of-17 shooting. Samajae Haynes-Jones missed 12 of his 17 shots and finished with 15 points, six assists and five turnovers. Guard Ricky Torres bounced back from a sloppy game at VCU with eight assists and no turnovers.
 
The schedule doesn't give the Shockers (7-6) a break. Temple (10-3) visits Koch Arena on Sunday and is another team that will pressure Wichita State's ball-handlers in an attempt to create turnovers and easy shots.
 
Then comes a trip to No. 17 Houston (14-0) before home games against Central Florida (11-2) and Cincinnati (12-2) – the three teams atop the American Athletic Conference power rankings. 

Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.