CONWAY, S.C. – Colby Rogers and Kenny Pohto combined for 51 points in Wichita State's 88-69 win over Saint Louis in the third place game of the Myrtle Beach Invitational Sunday night.

Wichita State (5-1) was without the services of Harlond Beverly, but got key contributions from Joy Ighovodja (5 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals in 25 minutes) and Jacob Germany (5 points, 3 rebounds). Germany hadn't seen any game action since Friends on Nov. 12.

Rogers scored 21 of his Wichita State career-high 28 points after halftime, going 11-for-19 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Pohto notched his second double-double of the season with a season-high 23 points and 12 rebounds.

Xavier Bell finished off a strong showing in Myrtle Beach with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Bell was named to the Myrtle Beach Invitational All-Tournament Team.

Dalen Ridgnal registered his second straight game with 10 rebounds.

Wichita State shot 49 percent and outrebounded the Billikens, 50-31.

Just 4:30 into the game Wichita State and Saint Louis found themselves locked at 14 only to see Ighovodja ignite a 9-0 run following a transition slam. Rogers capped the run with five straight points, including a pull-up transition three.

A Saint Louis three-pointer briefly broke up the Shockers' run four points from Bell and a Pohto layup pushed the lead to 12, 29-17, with just under 8:00 to go in the half.

The Billikens pulled with six at the 2:45 mark but Wichita State held Saint Louis scoreless over the final 2:45 and closed on an 8-0 run to take a 44-30 lead into the locker room.

Pohto (14) and Bell (12) combined for 26 first half points and Wichita State shot 47 percent from the field, despite going 1-for-10 from beyond the arc. Wichita State held SLU to just 31 percent shooting and dominated the glass, 25-14.

With the game hovering between 6-10 points for much of the half, Wichita State blew the game open behind a 14-0 run late in the second half. The Shockers grabbed an 80-62 lead with just under 3:00 minutes to play.

Up Next
Wichita State returns home after Thanksgiving to host Norfolk State on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.

Postgame Quotes

Wichita State Coach Paul Mills 
Opening Statement...
"I thought we were aggressive but it kind of took us a little while. We're not trying to walk it off. I was happy that we were way more forceful. I wasn't happy with some of the decisions, but if your foot is not on the gas, you're not gonna go anywhere. I did think that at least we throttled down a little bit more and it got us quality looks. We knew what we were looking for. We were trying to get Kenny [Pohto] and Colby [Rogers] shots and then 'X' [Xavier Bell] as well."

On winning the third place game...
"There are four teams walking out of here with at least two losses and you don't want to be one of them. I just think they're [third-place games] such momentum builders. If you can walk out of here with a good feeling, that pays huge dividends. Especially knowing we get a week off, it'll pay huge dividends just in rest and confidence."

On the Myrtle Beach Invitational experience...
"People do a great job here with this tournament. Just phenomenal people, a first class event. Everybody has been fantastic. A wonderful host. We love practicing in the hotel with all the other teams. To see each other, to be able to play, I think those kinds of things spur you on because you get to see other teams. Especially when you play good ones, you get to identify different things, this is the effort you got to give in order to win. Those things pay dividends because sometimes you don't get to compare yourself with any other people. These early season tournaments give you that opportunity."