The RoundHouse | 12/12/2020 5:43:00 PM

 
The little things are what matter and it is the little things Wichita State is still figuring out after its third game of the season and its first with a full roster.
 
The Shockers lost to Oklahoma State 67-64 on Saturday at Koch Arena. They had a 60-59 lead. They tied it 64-all with clutch free throws by Morris Udeze in the final minute. They had a chance to win in the final seconds.
 
It was the kind of game where the Shockers can think about practices and games lost, all those opportunities to iron out mistakes that hurt on Saturday. 
 
A missed box-out. Losing a shooter in transition defense to give up an easy shot. A forced shot. Nine first-half turnovers that handed the Cowboys 10 points.
 
The Shockers (1-2) can also think about flashes of promise that might get closer to paying off as they – fingers crossed – get into a routine with all available bodies. American Athletic Conference play starts next week and interim coach Isaac Brown can – fingers crossed – think about a rotation built on strengths and chemistry instead of mere availability.
 
"It's our first experience together as an entire group," guard Alterique Gilbert said. "We've got some young guys who are going to get in the mix."
 
Gilbert and Tyson Etienne carried Wichita State on Saturday and that backcourt will be called upon to do that often this season. They're going to control the ball most of the time and they're going to make the crucial plays, shooting or passing. 
 
"We put a lot on them," Brown said. "Those guys have been really good."
 
Dexter Dennis shone defensively for a second straight game. He is the top candidate to help with scoring problems and the Shockers need those points. 
 
Dennis kept Cowboys star freshman Cade Cunningham – projected as a top pick in the NBA Draft – from taking over. Cunningham, who made the game-winning three-pointer with 11 seconds to play, finished with 10 points on 11 shots, three assists and four turnovers. Udeze scored 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting and gave the Shockers some post production in the first half.
 
The next step is for the rest of the Shockers to coalesce around Gilbert and Etienne and make them more effective by finishing shots, rebounding and moving without the ball. Wichita State shot 36.2 percent from the field and missed 21 of its 26 three-point shots. Etienne made three of Wichita State's five three-pointers. Gilbert missed all three of his, but made 4 of 5 two-pointers and 6 of 9 foul shots.
 
In the first half, turnovers and rebounding put the Shockers in a hole. Up 28-24, they gave up a 14-3 run that included six offensive rebounds for the Cowboys (6-0) and three turnovers. For the game, Oklahoma State grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and outscored the Shockers 17-3 in fast-break points.
 
In the second half, Wichita State had its chances and couldn't string together enough good possessions. It is hard to rally when missing 13 of 14 three-pointers.

Up 60-59, the Shockers missed their next three shots and Oklahoma State went up 63-60. 
 
Cunningham made a well-defended three-pointer to break a 64-all tie with 9.8 seconds to play. 
 
"We defended it well," Brown said. "He showed tonight why he's a million-dollar man."
 
Dexter Dennis's well-defended three missed after the Shockers blew the timing of the play and put Dennis in position to force the shot. The play was designed for flare screens on the wings when Dennis caught the ball at the top of the key. With the timing off, the Cowboys smothered Dennis and his options.
 
"We went a little bit early," Brown said. "We've got to clean that up."
 
Those are the types of issues the Shockers might have worked on in a closed scrimmage, which typically feature a session with end-of-game plays. Or in an exhibition game. Instead, the Shockers are learning on the fly after weeks of short-handed practices.
 
"We're all capable of making plays," Etienne said. "It's all going to fall in place."
 
The prospects of a full roster showed up throughout the game.
 
Freshman Ricky Council IV, playing in his second game, grabbed five rebounds in 14 minutes and made some nice drives to the basket before failing to finish. Freshman center Josaphat Bilau, in his debut, helped the Shockers match OSU's physical play with five rebounds in six second-half minutes.
 
"This right here is a young team," Brown said. "We just weren't good enough in the first half. We've just know we've got to put 40 minutes together."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.