The RoundHouse | 12/8/2019 5:01:00 PM

 
STILLWATER, Okla. – Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall mentioned Landry Shamet's 2017 performance, so Jamarius Burton knew a little about the history in Gallagher-Iba Arena and lot about his importance to the game plan.
 
The Cowboys pressure, trap and deny passes and the point guard needs to navigate all that, make decisions, and stay composed. In 2017, Shamet did it with 30 points and five assists, highlighted by an almost flawless second half, in a win over Oklahoma State. On Sunday, Burton added to that history with a different, but equally effective, run as point guard in an 80-61 win.
 
"(Marshall) said last time we were in this building, Landry went for 30," Burton said. "Landry had 30, but I filled up the stat sheet today."
 
When the Shockers return to Gallagher-Iba, Marshall will be able to say "Last time, we were in this building, Jamarius Burton went for 11 assists and one turnover, three steals, eight rebounds and seven points."
 
While it's not as catchy as a 30-spot, it works.
 
"JB was, I thought, the toughest guy on the whole floor," Marshall said. "He impacted the game as much as anybody . . . with his determination, coming up with loose balls, rebounding, assists, running the team. Being the toughest guy on the floor."
 
The Shockers (8-1) broke down Oklahoma State's defense with great shooting (11 of 26 from three-point range), created by the guards handling the pressure and passing to open shooters. The passers created a man-advantage by beating traps and the shooters made the shots. Wichita State totaled 17 assists on 28 baskets. 
 
"We played a beautiful brand of basketball for a great majority of the game," Marshall said.
 
OSU's opponents shot 25.4 percent from three-point range in the previous eight games. The Shockers solved that defense.
 
"They deny so much and they help so well, you've got to attack the paint and look to make the extra pass," Marshall said. "We were unselfish. We were getting into the lane and finding Tyson (Etienne), finding Erik (Stevenson)."
 
Etienne, a freshman guard, led all scorers with 19 points on 5-of-8 three-point shooting. Stevenson added 13 points and six rebounds. Center Jaime Echenique, limited by fouls, scored 13 points in 9 minutes, 58 seconds. 
 
While Burton heard about Shamet's big game, he mostly thought about redemption after a 75-63 loss to West Virginia. He scored two points and had one assist with two turnovers against the Mountaineers, who play a similar aggressive style of defense to the Cowboys (7-2).
 
"Today was the perfect opportunity for me to bounce back against a quality opponent and try to help our ball club win in any way possible," Burton said. 
 
Burton said he knew Etienne could contribute significantly early this summer. He watched Etienne shoot, watched the way he worked, listened and studied video and figured to count on him. 
 
"I knew from Day One he would be tremendous for us," Burton said. "Just his ability to shoot the ball, along with his motor, is a great combination. He plays hard all the time."
 
On Sunday, Etienne found the open spots to give Burton and his teammates good avenues to pass. He made back-to-back three-pointers to give the Shockers a 17-6 lead. He made back-to-back threes early in the second half to extend Wichita State's lead to 50-35.
 
"The defense, when I drove, he was able to read the defense and get to an open spot and knock down a shot confidently," Burton said. 
 
A road game didn't appear to bother any of the Shockers, even those in their first one.
 
"Confidence, excitement," Etienne said. "Coach talked us about us being relentless. One of the keys to winning on the road is you've got to be tougher. He said that early this week. Oklahoma State is a good team. They've been on the road. We're still a young team. I think we answered the call." 

Etienne is 24 of 52 from three-point range this season. He also made 5 of 8 against UT Martin, on his way to a season-high 21 points. 
 
Oklahoma State entered the game No. 25 in the Pomeroy rankings, which means the win is the best, by that measure, by an American Athletic Conference team this season. Should the Cowboys maintain, the win would be big addition to an NCAA Tournament resume.
 
The Cowboys played without standout point guard Isaac Likekele, who missed his second game with illness. They lost both. 
 
"This was a big opportunity," Stevenson said. "It's our only non-conference road game, so it was on our mind that we've got to get this one."
 
Most important for Wichita State, it won with strong performances throughout the roster. It decisively won the backcourt matchups and its depth in the post also prevailed.
 
"They came in and physically dominated us," Cowboys coach Mike Boynton said. "It started early on the glass, specifically, but it was throughout. They played with an edge and a confidence that you come to expect from Coach Marshall and his group. We certainly did not respond the way necessary to have a chance in a game like this."
 
Wichita State won by out-rebounding OSU 42-31 and scoring 23 second-chance points on 14 offensive rebounds. The Shockers held OSU 38.5-percent shooting and limited Lindy Waters, coming off a career-high 29 points vs. Georgetown, to 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting. 
 
"We turned the tables on the glass from the West Virginia game to the Oklahoma State game, which was a big key for us," Marshall said. "We were a ratty team that looked like Wichita State Shocker basketball."
 
The Shockers especially needed their depth in the lane. Foul trouble kept Echenique and Morris Udeze on the bench for long stretches. Asbjorn Midtgaard stepped up with five points, five rebounds and two blocks in 15:29 minutes. Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler added five points and four rebounds.
 
"It's critical for us to have four (centers) at our disposal, when they foul the way they foul," Marshall said. "Asbjorn was huge today on the glass. Poor Bear was in there battling, the whole first half really, and doing yeoman's work on the glass"
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.