The RoundHouse | 2/6/2020 9:22:00 PM

 

Wichita State is a few seconds on the wrong side of basketball fate over the past six days. That is tough for a young team to handle and now the Shockers face road games at No. 25 Houston (Sunday) and UCF (Feb. 13).
 
Cincinnati scored with 3.5 seconds to play to win 80-79 on Thursday, adding to the hurt from Saturday's buzzer-beating loss at Tulsa (54-51).
 
"College basketball, it's cruel," Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said. "They made a great play. They made one more play."
 
At Tulsa, the Shockers played good defense and couldn't score. On Thursday, they shot 48.5 percent from the field, their best in American Athletic Conference play. Pairing those types of efforts is never easy.
 
Wichita State returns to practice and it can at least believe it's not far from a better fate. It is their only choice with the tough road trip ahead and much to play for.
 
"We can learn from games like last game and today," guard Jamarius Burton said. "We could have got another stop, made another basket."
 
Cincinnati senior Jarron Cumberland, the 2019 American Player of the Year, made that one play. 
 
His drive, basket and foul shot gave the Bearcats the one-point lead and they survived a desperation three by Wichita State's Erik Stevenson at the buzzer.
 
Cumberland controlled most of the game on offense and answered most of Wichita State's second-half runs. 
 
When the Shockers (17-5, 5-4 American Athletic Conference) cut the lead to 50-49, Cumberland responded with a three-point play. The Shockers cut an eight-point deficit to 63-60 and Cumberland pushed it to a seven-point lead with two baskets. After a Shocker basket, his three-pointer made it 70-62. He made two free throws with 40 seconds to play for a 77-76 lead.
 
Then he doused a fired-up Koch Arena by driving against Wichita State's Dexter Dennis from the top of the key and completing the three-point play in traffic near the basket. 
 
Cumberland finished with 24 points, missing 7 of 8 three-pointers, and five assists.
 
"I did what I could, but apparently it wasn't enough," Dennis said. "All night, defensively, I think I just wasn't in tune. We didn't get enough defensive stops tonight."
 
Cumberland's heroics spoiled several big moments by the Shockers. Dennis swooped in for an offensive rebound and dribbled to the corner for a three to cut Cincinnati's lead to 70-67. Dennis made another three to give the Shockers a 76-75 lead. Grant Sherfield made it 79-77 with a three with 16 seconds to play.
 
The Bearcats (15-7, 8-2) won their fifth straight game by shooting 54.5 percent from the floor and committing nine turnovers, a low in conference play. They are the first Shocker opponent to shoot better than 50 percent. Only Oklahoma (seven) had fewer turnovers against the Shockers.
 
"We couldn't stop them," Burton said. "They just took advantage of every situation that they had."
 
Center Chris Vogt made 5 of 7 shots to score 12 points. Keith Williams scored on an assortment of drives and jumpers to add 17 and Jaevin Cumberland (Jarron's cousin) made three three-pointers to score nine points.
 
"For us to give up 80 points, that's not going to get it most nights," Marshall said. "We've got to figure it out. Losing two games in a row like that is really tough."
 
The Bearcats beat the Shockers with a blend of one-on-one baskets, spreading the court to let guards work and Jarron Cumberland's experience in moving the defense to create good shots. The Shockers also sagged in transition defense, giving up layups at least twice after made baskets. 
 
"I don't know whether we're not athletic enough or if we're just jogging back," Marshall said. "It's not acceptable."
 
Wichita State senior Jaime Echenique continued his strong finishing kick with 19 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Cincinnati double-teamed him in the second half, yet he still managed to hurt the Bearcats. 
 
Marshall said the Bearcats didn't double the post in previous games.
 
"That's a testament to Jaime and the quality of play," Marshall said. "He did a better job of handling the double-team after the first or second time."
 
Echenique is averaging 16 points and 9.3 rebounds over his past three games.
 
"He's been saving us," Dennis said. "He needs help."

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