The RoundHouse | 1/26/2022 10:44:00 PM
Dexter Dennis and
Morris Udeze called the big scoring night a 30-piece chicken nugget for
Ricky Council IV. Then Dennis tried to shut off the statistical praise for Council, laughing as he complained that he might get a big head.
Wichita State coach
Isaac Brown got to talk about the Shockers making big shots and crucial plays. UCF coach Johnny Dawkins had to talk about the opposition stepping up.
The Shockers won 84-79 over UCF on Wednesday at Koch Arena. They returned from a 10-day COVID break from games and ended a four-game losing streak.
It had been a while – Dec. 22 – since the Shockers enjoyed the post-game routine. On Wednesday, they never trailed, held the lead by limiting turnovers and letting Council solve the offensive droughts that led to frustrating losses.
"It just feels good to win," Council said, after scoring a career-high 31 points. "If scoring 30 was part of it – I just wanted to win. I was just tired of it. I had to do what I could do."
Council made 16 of 20 foul shots and three of four three-pointers. He scored 22 of those points in the second half to help the Shockers hold a lead that dwindled from 16 in the first half to seven at halftime and three in the second half.
This time, the Shockers had answers. Often it was Council driving and drawing fouls, then making free throws with his two-dribble-and-shoot improved form.
Craig Porter Jr. joined Council to keep the Shockers perking in the second half with eight points and two assists before fouling out.
The Shockers endured a bad moment or two on offense in the second half. It didn't spiral into five or six as it had in previous games. Council's shot-making and Porter's composure played a large role.
With 3:38 to play, UCF cut the lead to nine. The Knights mustered up a strong defensive stand and the Shockers looked out of sorts – until Porter hit Udeze with a bounce pass. Udeze dunked with the shot clock expiring for an 11-point lead.
UCF cut the lead to 70-64. Porter responded with a step back three-pointer with 1:35 to play to push the lead to 73-64.
Brown said Porter stays after practice each day to make 50 threes from five spots. Brown wants him taking open threes. He also wants him driving to when defenders rush at him. On Wednesday, Porter made two of four threes.
"We all have faith in him," Udeze said. "He's the one who runs the show for us. We know he's going to make the right pass."
Udeze pitched in with 14 points, six in the second half. Guard
Tyson Etienne struggled from the field, but his one three-pointer mattered. It gave the Shockers a 66-57 lead with 4:44 to play.
Council starred with the program's first 30-point performance since Markis McDuffie did it twice in 2019. His 16 made foul shots match Cleo Littleton (1955), Dave Stallworth (1965) and John Cooper (1990) for the third-most in a game. His 20 attempts rank third behind Littleton (25 in 1955) and Stallworth (23 in 1963).
The Shocker offense needed Council's dynamic scoring. When he is on, and taking care of the ball, he can score in more ways than any other Shocker. It also took more than that to hold the lead.
"All we talked about was finishing games, playing 40 minutes," Brown said. "Not turning it over. Taking good shots. Defending. Rebounding."
The Shockers, with two games canceled, had lots of practice time. Brown liked the energy. Dennis, who scored 13 points and blocked two shots, compared it to the first day of practice.
"It gave us a little mental reset," he said. "Our practices were a lot more sharp, more sharp. The practices did amp up."
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
