Jaykwon Walton scored a career-high 24 points, including a game-tying three in the final seconds of regulation, but Wichita State fell in overtime to visiting Tulane, 95-90, Wednesday night at Charles Koch Arena.
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The Shockers (10-10, 3-5 American) led by as many as 18 points late in the first half and by eight with 2:41 to play in regulation.
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Jaylen Forbes (25 points) and Jalen Cook (20 points, nine rebounds, six assists) paced Tulane (13-7, 6-3), which scored on 14 of 16 possessions over the last 3:00 of regulation plus overtime.
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The Green Wave used a 10-0 run, capped by Sion James' steal and dunk (plus an and-one free throw), to go up 74-71 with 22 seconds left in the second half.
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WSU tied the game with nine seconds left when
Craig Porter Jr. found Walton on a baseline inbound pass for a corner three.
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In overtime, Tulane won the tip and moved in front for good on buckets from Kevin Cross and Tylan Pope.
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WSU turned the ball over on each of its first two possessions in the extra period before scoring on it next seven. It wasn't enough.
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Tulane made 6-of-7 shots in overtime and all seven of its free throw attempts to keep the Shockers at arm's length.
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The Green Wave shot 50.7% for the game. They missed their first 10 three-point attempts of the night before connecting on 9 of their last 15.
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The Shockers shot 44.4%, made 14-of-38 threes and logged a season-high 21 assists. They outrebounded Tulane 46-33 but lost the turnover battle 14-8 and were outscored 25-16 at the foul line.
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Walton was 9-of-15 from the field, including 5-of-9 from long distance, and handed out a personal-best six assists.
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Jaron Pierre Jr. added 18 points and seven rebounds while canning 5-of-12 treys.
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Porter flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 12 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. It was his second double-double of the season and the third of his Shocker career.
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James Rojas scored six of his 10 points in overtime before fouling out with 38 seconds remaining. It was his fifth straight double-figure scoring game.
WSU made 8 of its first 10 shots and 13-of-20 to start the game. Walton hit a three and Porter made two free throws for a 39-21 cushion with 4:04 to go in the first half.
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Tulane got its offense on track, sinking 6-of-7 shots to end the half.
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The Shockers scored a season-high 48 first-half points, capped by a
Gus Okafor three that made it a 48-35 game at the intermission.
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Tulane opened the second half with a 9-0 run, helped by a couple of Forbes threes.
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The Shockers missed 11-straight shots over a 7:44 scoring drought that stretched from the 13:56-mark until Pierre's free throw with 6:11 left.
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Tulane capitalized with another 8-0 run and took its first lead of the night on Pope's reverse layup with 9:04 remaining.
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WSU picked things up defensively, limiting the Wave to just two baskets over the next six minutes. Pierre made two triples and Porter added another during a 14-4 counterstrike that put the Shockers back in front, 71-63, with 2:41 to play.
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Cook answered with a three and the Shockers were whistled for shooting fouls on each of the next three defensive stands. The Green Wave – the nation's second-best foul shooting team by percentage – capitalized with five freebies to tie the game.
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NOTABLE:
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The Green Wave's 95 points were the most allowed by a Shocker team since a 95-87 loss at Missouri State on Jan. 7, 2007 and the most scored by a visiting team at the Roundhouse since Feb. 12, 1983 when the Shockers defeated Indiana State, 111-96.
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Porter blocked one shot and is now tied with former teammate
Dexter Dennis for 17
th on WSU's all-time blocks chart with 70.
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WSU is 0-2 this year in overtime games and has dropped four straight going back to last season.
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WSU leads the all-time series, 6-3, but the Green Wave have taken each of the last three meetings – all in come-from-behind fashion. A year ago in Wichita, they trailed by 14 at halftime before rallying for a 68-67 win. In New Orleans, they overcame a nine-point deficit in the final 3:38 for a 67-66 victory.
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UP NEXT:
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WSU is off to East Carolina for a Sunday morning showdown on ESPNU (11 a.m. CT).
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The Shockers return home next Thursday night to face No. 3 Houston at Charles Koch Arena (8 p.m. CT, ESPN2). Tickets are available at 316-978-FANS (3267) or online at goshockers.com/tickets.