The RoundHouse | 12/14/2019 8:38:00 PM
The directions were simple for the second half – take charge of that 12-foot painted area. Wichita State ceded control of the lane in the first half and trailed by four points at halftime.
Grant Sherfield changed that in the final 10 minutes of Saturday's 80-75 win over Oklahoma at Intrust Bank Arena. He changed an offense from one relying on contested jumpers to one directed at the basket.
"Try to touch the paint every possession," Sherfield said. "I was trying to touch paint every time, create for my teammates and, if that's not open, make a shot."
Sherfield, a freshman guard, did all of that on the biggest stage of his young career – against Oklahoma, on ESPN2, with Wichita State (9-1) on the verge of building some buzz.
The Shockers trailed 56-48 with 11 minutes to play. Sherfield worked the ball to center
Jaime Echenique for two baskets and start the Shockers on a game-changing run. He scored over former Shocker Austin Reaves on a drive to give WSU a 58-56 lead. Sherfield's floater made it 60-56 to conclude a 12-0 run that turned Intrust Bank Arena into a frenzy.
While OU briefly regained the lead at 66-64, the Shockers figured it out. They continued to work inside against the Sooners.
"We didn't do a whole lot in the paint that first half," Wichita State guard
Erik Stevenson said. "In the second half, we found that lane, got in the paint."
The Shockers took the lead for good on a three-pointer by
Tyson Etienne. A putback by
Trey Wade – one of his 15 rebounds – made it 69-66 with 1:29 to play. The Shockers made 12 of 13 foul shots in the final 1:07.
Wichita State outscored OU 34-12 in the lane with 24 of those points coming in the second half. Ten of those points came off offensive rebounds.
"Big difference, second-chance points," OU coach Lon Kruger said. "We didn't do what we needed to do to keep them from those second-shot opportunities."
Sherfield started the season scoring 12 points against Omaha and 13 against Texas Southern. His playing time slipped when sophomore
Jamarius Burton returned from injury and the offense rolled along smoothly. On Saturday, the Shockers needed Sherfield's ability to beat defenders off the dribble and score in the lane.
"He shined in a huge moment," Marshall said. "Grant was doing it consistently – getting in the paint, making the pullup jumper, the floater or finding the big. His performance today was a catalyst."
Sherfield made 4 of 8 shots and all six of his foul shots to score 14 points. He had three assists and no turnovers. He scored 12 of those points in the second half.
Wichita State's depth paid off in the final minutes. They took over the offensive glass. They made shots when the Sooners began to come up short. The Shockers drove into the lane against weary defenders.
Eight Shockers played eight or more minutes, two more than 30. All five Oklahoma (7-2) starters played 32 or more minutes. Their three reserves combined for nine points. Wichita State's bench scored 31, led by Sherfield's 14.
Wichita State out-rebounded the Sooners 48-31 for the game. In the second half, they grabbed seven offensive rebounds.
"I felt like we were more physical than them in the second half," Stevenson said.
One example of fatigue – OU's Sean Doolittle missed his final three shots, one in which he wasted a mismatch in the lane against a smaller Shocker. He finished with 22 points on 8-of-22 shooting.
The Shockers also used their depth against Reaves, who entered the game averaging 17.6 points. Burton, Stevenson and
Dexter Dennis took turns guarding him. Stevenson said he took the matchup personally.
Reaves, who played two seasons at Wichita State before transferring, scoring 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
This three-game stretch always loomed as key for Wichita State. After winning at Oklahoma State and handling the Sooners, VCU is next (Saturday at Koch Arena).
The Shockers banked two wins over teams that are currently in the top 50 of Ken Pomeroy's rankings (No. 38 OSU and No. 41 OU). Beating the Sooners moved the Shockers up to No. 36, up from No. 58 in late November.
VCU is No. 40.
A year ago, the Sooners routed the Shockers 80-48 in Oklahoma City.
"What difference a year makes," Marshall said. "That spring of 2018 put us in a tough spot. We got our head handed to us. Didn't have much fight."
A year later, Marshall is talking about rising into the top 25. Each win sets the ceiling a little higher.
"They know now what it takes to win against a very, very talented team," Marshall said. "We're putting ourselves in a position where (being ranked) is possible."
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
