SOUTH ALABAMA (1-0, 0-0 SBC) at WICHITA STATE (1-0, 0-0 AAC)
Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 | 3:02 p.m. CT
Wichita, Kan. | Charles Koch Arena (10,506)
 
Tickets: 978-FANS (3267), GoShockers.com/Tickets
TV: ESPN+
Radio: KEYN 103.7 FM (GoShockers.com/Listen)
Series: First Meeting
 

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After a memorable finish to Tuesday's season opener, Wichita State looks to continue its momentum Saturday against South Alabama at Charles Koch Arena.
 
PROMOTIONS:
Saturday is Military Appreciation Day. Veterans and active service members can purchase an upper-reserved ticket at a discount ($30) with a valid military ID.
 
TICKETS:
Tickets are available for all remaining games – online at goshockers.com/tickets or through the Shocker Ticket Office at 316-978-FANS. Fans can buy a specialty ticket to the Jan. 1 Memphis game that includes a replica AAC championship ring. For more information, visit goshockers.com/rings.
 
#WATCHUS:
The game will air on ESPN+ with Shane Dennis (PxP) and Bob Hull (Analyst) on the call.  ESPN+ subscribers can stream live and on demand via the ESPN App.  Subscriptions for ESPN+ are $6.99 monthly or $69.99 annually and can be packaged with Hulu and Disney+ streaming services.
 
SHOCKER RADIO:
Listen live on KEYN 103.7 FM and online at GoShockers.com/Listen. Division I college basketball's longest-tenured duo, Mike Kennedy (pbp) and Dave Dahl (analyst) are in their 41st season together on radio. Kennedy is in his 42nd season as Voice of the Shockers.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Go behind the scenes with the Shockers all season long. Follow @GoShockersMBB on facebook, twitter and Instagram. For feature stories and podcasts bookmark The Roundhouse page at GoShockers.com and follow @RoundhouseNews.
 

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OPENING TIPS:

• Tyson Etienne scored a game-high 16 points, capped by a three-pointer from the center court logo with 2.2 seconds remaining, to help the Shockers survive a veteran Jacksonville State team, 60-57. Dexter Dennis added 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
• Stocked with seven Division I transfers, the Jaguars (1-0) routed Division II Spring Hill on Tuesday night, 102-41. Jay Jay Chandler led a group of five double-figure scorers with 21 points. USA was +20 on the boards, +12 in turnovers and held its opponent to 25.8% from the field, including 0-of-15 from three.
• WSU has never faced USA, but head coach Isaac Brown is plenty familiar with the Jags. He was an assistant there on John Pelphrey's staff from 2002-07 (his first assignment at the Division I level). Brown and Pelphrey helped orchestrate a five-year turnaround culminating in a pair of Sun Belt division titles and trips to the 2006 NCAA tournament and 2007 NIT.
• After opening against a JSU team that ranked among the top-10 nationally in minutes returning (96%), the Shockers take on a USA squad that ranks among the bottom-10 in that category (28.6%, 8th fewest).
• The Shockers have won 10-straight home games, going back to last December. It's their 20th double-digit home winning streak since the Roundhouse's 1955 debut.
• Going back to November, 2011, WSU is 61-3 in non-conference games at CKA. Two of the losses came last year in front of reduced-capacity crowds (0 & 525).
• WSU (16-6 last year) has played in eight of the last nine NCAA tournaments.  The defending American Athletic Conference champions welcome back three starters: AAC co-player of the year Tyson Etienne and fourth-years Morris Udeze and Dexter Dennis. They're joined by four other returning lettermen, including AAC All-Freshman pick Ricky Council IV. A group of six newcomers includes Division II All-American Qua Grant as well as Joe Pleasant, an All-Southland Conference forward at Abilene Christian.
• Etienne has been named to three different player of the year watch lists: the Wooden and Lute Olson Awards and the Naismith Trophy.

 

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SCOUTING THE JAGUARS:

• Coach Richie Riley has won at least 17 games in each of his first three seasons at USA.
• The 2020-21 Jaguars finished 17-11 and advanced to the semifinals of the SBC Tournament as the No. 3 seed.
• USA returns just two rotation players. 6-8 graduate forward Kayo Goncalves made 81 threes in 28 games (2.9-per-game; No. 2 in the SBC) and 6-5 sophomore guard Jamal West was the team's leading rebounder (6.3).
• A group of 10 newcomers includes seven Division I transfers plus one more from the junior college ranks.
• 6-3 guard Greg Parham was a 1,000-point scorer and first team All-SoCon performer for VMI.

 
MATCHUP MASHUP: 

• USA's leading scorer in the opener, Jay Jay Chandler, played four seasons at Texas A&M – the first two under WSU assistant Billy Kennedy. Chandler was a freshman reserve on the 2018 Aggie team that advanced to the Sweet 16.
• Another grad transfer, Lance Thomas, spent the past three years at Memphis. In three career appearances against the Shockers he totaled 11 points.
• The teams share several common opponents. USA will play Tarleton State home-and-home in December, on the heels of a Dec. 4 road game at WSU's opening night foe Jacksonville State. 
• Both sides booked exempt tournaments in Las Vegas. The Shockers will appear in the Roman Main Event (Nov. 19, 21 at T-Mobile Arena) and the Jaguars are part of a four-team field in the Las Vegas Classic (Nov. 25-26 at Orleans Arena).

 
LAST TIME OUT:
Nov. 9 | Wichita State 60, Jacksonville State 57

• Tyson Etienne's deep, deep three broke a 57-all tie with 2.2 seconds remaining and helped WSU get by Jacksonville State in the season opener.
• After JSU tied the game at 57 with 20 seconds to play, Etienne did the expected -- running down the clock for a final shot -- followed by the unexpected -- calmly swishing the game-winner from the edge of the center court logo (officially 31-feet-9.5-inches).
• Neither side led by more than half-a-dozen points.
• Etienne finished with a game-high 16. His heroics came on a night when he and his teammates otherwise struggled from long range. Prior to the last shot, he had made just 1-of-6 threes and WSU was a chilly 3-of-21.
• Dexter Dennis added 14 points and a team-high eight boards for WSU, which shot 38.6% but converted 12-of-14 free throws, including 11-of-12 after halftime.
• Freshman big man Kenny Pohto missed shoot around due to illness but stepped up with eight points on three dunks, two steals and a block in 18 minutes.
• Kayne Henry paced JSU with 15 points on 4-of-5 three-point shooting and Darian Adams added 14 points and eight assists.
• The Gamecocks shot 42.3% including 8-of-20 from distance but converted just 5-of-11 at the foul line.
• The Shockers outrebounded the Gamecocks 37-31 and outscored them 15-4 on second-chance opportunities. They also won the turnover battle, forcing 17 while committing just 11. Eight different Shockers combined for 10 steals.
• Craig Porter Jr. finished with a career-high seven rebounds and Monzy Jackson's three assists were also a new personal-best.

 
THAT WAS A CLOSE ONE:

• Neither side led by more than half-a-dozen points in Tuesday's season opener between the Shockers in Jacksonville State. The visiting Gamecocks led by six on four occasions during the first half. The Shockers briefly took a four-point lead midway through the second half.

Since the 2003 renovation, just one other Shocker home game has been more closely-contested. On Feb. 23, 2011, WSU and Creighton staged a back-and-forth struggle in which neither side led by more than five points. Aaron Ellis banked in a jumper with 1.5 seconds remaining for a 67-65 Shocker victory.

Closest Shocker Home Games (Based on Largest Leads):
1/30/1982 – Bradley (W, 47-42) – WSU led by 5, BU led by 6; 2 ties, 3 lead changes
12/8/1984 – McNeese (L, 56-60) – WSU led by 5, McNeese led by 4; 10 ties, 12 lead changes
12/15/1990 – Missouri St. (L, 62-64 ot) – WSU led by 5, MSU led by 5; 9 ties, 19 lead changes
1/27/1998 – Creighton (L, 72-75 ot) – WSU led by 5, CU led by 6; 7 ties, 18 lead changes
2/23/2011 – Creighton (W, 67-65) – WSU led by 5, CU led by 5; 16 ties, 17 lead changes
11/9/2021 – Jacksonville St. (W, 60-57) – WSU led by 4, JSU led by 6; 11 ties, 9 lead changes

 
TRENDING:

• All 11 teams from The American opened with a win.
• Dexter Dennis has WSU's longest active start streak (36), while Etienne has appeared in a team-best 54-straight contests. He's yet to miss a game.
• Etienne has made at least one free throw in 25-straight going back to his freshman year (2019-20). That's the longest Shocker streak since Cleanthony Early's 27-gamer during the 2013-14 undefeated season.

WSU Players // Consecutive Games with a Free Throw (1996-Pr.):
58 -- Jamar Howard (2001-02 to 2003-04)
30 -- Maurice Evans (1997-98 to 1998-99)
29 -- Randy Burns (2002-03 to 2003-04)
27 -- Cleanthony Early (2013-14)
25 -- Tyson Etienne (2019-20 to Present)
25 -- Jason Perez (1997-98)

• Dennis needs just two more three-point field goals to move into the top-10 on WSU's all-time list.

WSU Career Leaders // 3-Point Field Goals:
6. Conner Frankamp (2015-18) – 164
7. Markis McDuffie (2015-19) – 160
8. Landry Shamet (2015-18) – 159
9. David Kyles (2008-12) – 153
10. Paul Guffrovich (1987-91) – 144
11. Dexter Dennis (2018-Pr.) – 142
12. Fred VanVleet (2012-16) – 141

 
Tuesday's marked the 20th time since the 2018-19 season that WSU has won while shooting less than 40%. That total ranks second nationally behind Houston (22).

NCAA Leaders // Wins While Shooting Less Than 40% // 2018-19 to Present
22 – Houston (AAC)
20 – Wichita State (AAC)
15 – New Mexico State (WAC)
14 – Florida State, Jackson State, Virginia, Wisconsin
As of Nov. 11, 2021 // Data Source: College Basketball Reference Play Index

 

• Under Isaac Brown, WSU is now 10-3 in games decided by five points-or-less in either direction. WSU is also a remarkable 6-4 when trailing at halftime and 5-4 when tied or trailing at the 5:00-mark of the second half. The Shockers were down 27-23 at the break Tuesday and the game was tied at 49 at the 5:00-mark.

 
ON THIS DATE: NOVEMBER 13

• This is Wichita State's most-successful day, by winning percentage. Shocker teams are a perfect 6-0, with all six games taking place over the last 15 years.
• The most memorable of those wins came in 2012 when WSU scored a 53-51 road win at VCU, avenging an NCAA tournament loss from the previous year. Malcolm Armstead hit the game-winning jumper with 3.3 seconds to go.

WSU All-Time on Nov. 13 (6-0):
2007 -- Ark.-Pine Bluff -- Won, 61-56
2011 -- Charleston So. -- Won, 85-67
2012 -- at VCU – Won, 53-51
2015 -- Charleston So. – Won, 88-53
2016 -- Long Beach St. – Won, 92-55
2017 -- Col. of Charleston – Won, 81-63
2021 -- South Alabama          

 
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A SHOCKER WIN WOULD….

• ... Make them 2-0 for the first time since a 6-0 start to 2019-20 and for the 14th time in the last 20 seasons.
• ...Give them a 1-0 lead in the all-time series with USA.
• ... Make WSU 61-3 at CKA against non-conference foes since the start of the 2011-12 season.
• ...Give them nine-consecutive regular season wins going back to last January.
• ...Extend their home winning streak to 11 games -- tied for the 17th-longest streak in program history.

 
A SHOCKERS LOSS WOULD...

• ... Drop them to 1-1.
• ... Snap a 10-game home winning streak.
• ... Be just their fourth non-conference loss at CKA in the past decade (2011-12 to present).
• ... Be their first regular season loss since Jan. 21.
• ... Give USA a 1-0 lead in the all-time series.
• ... Be less good than a win.

 

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UP NEXT:

• WSU welcomes another first-time foe, Tarleton State, on Tuesday evening (7 p.m. CT, ESPN+).
• Coach Billy Gillispie's Texans put a scare into host Stanford in Tuesday's season opener, leading by as many as seven points near the 14:17-mark of the second half of an eventual 62-50 loss.