The RoundHouse | 2/11/2024 3:30:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop

Close again. Frustrated again. The education on the painfully small margin between winning and losing continues to torment Wichita State.
 
Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May can sympathize.
 
His teams went through similar struggles in close games before last season's run to the Final Four. The 20^th-ranked Owls continue to win this season and possess a solid NCAA Tournament resume.
 
Teams like May's seem to get all the bounces. They play well enough to earn many of those breaks, turn 50-50 balls into 60-40 and close calls seem to go their way at the crucial times. It wasn't always that way, May will tell you.
 
"Two teams playing with desperation to win," May said. "This Wichita State team is a little bit snake-bitten in these close games. It's a lot like we were (in 2021-22). We lost all these games. For whatever reason, we found ways to lose them. The next year with that experience coming back we found ways to win them."
 
On Sunday, the Shockers (10-14, 2-9 American Athletic Conference) had their chances to upset the Owls in regulation and failed to close it out. FAU scored the overtime's first six points and dominated the extra period for a 95-82 win at Koch Arena.
 
The Shockers hurt themselves with 17 turnovers – eight more than the Owls (19-5, 9-2). FAU outscored the Shockers 20-12 at the line. That spoiled other solid performances – 50 percent shooting, 75 percent from the line – for the Shockers. Guard Xavier Bell scored a career-high 25 points, including a go-ahead three-pointer in the final minute. Guard Colby Rogers add 21 points and made 3 of 5 threes.
 
"They're a tough, tough cover," May said. "Everyone that stepped on that floor tonight competed at a high, high level."
 
Just not quite high enough by the Shockers. Over the past five games, they defeated SMU 77-72 to earn their best win of the season, led by 15 at Tulsa, by 14 at Memphis, defeated UTSA 84-64 and took FAU to overtime.
 
WSU's level can be quite high, high enough to play well on the road and high enough to force the opposition to raise its level, work hard and feel thrilled to survive. The Shockers struggle matching that gear, as they did in overtime on Sunday. On a day the Shockers shot well from the foul line (75 percent), the Owls shot even better (90 percent). Maybe it's experience. Maybe it's a lack of roster continuity. Sometimes it's bad luck. Sometimes, as May said, it's the randomness of the sport.

The Shockers are ready for the breaks to turn in their favor.
 
"Things don't always go your way," WSU coach Paul Mills said. "You keep going. You continue to battle. You make sure you have no quit in you and that's what they guys have."
 
Two close calls in the final minutes added to the Shocker frustration.
 
With FAU up 68-66, the Shockers produced a defensive stand that resulted in a desperation shot that appeared to come after the shot clock expired. The Shockers stopped. FAU's Jalen Gaffney grabbed the rebound and scored for a 70-68 lead. Since the violation wasn't whistled on the floor, the play was not subject to review.
 
"Sometimes it's things you can't even control," Mills said, as he did his best to hide his anger. "That's a shot clock violation. Officials miss calls. Don't know that you can miss that one. You blow your whistle, and you go back and review it."
 
That no-call didn't derail Wichita State's comeback after it trailed 68-60.
 
 

XAVIER BELL FOR THE LEAD 🔔 pic.twitter.com/0a6Bf9PVS2

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) February 11, 2024

"It was a huge swing," Bell said. "At the end of day, we've got to be aware, got to finish off plays."
 
After Bell's three gave WSU a 73-72 lead with 42 seconds to play, the Shockers again came close to a stop. But officials ruled Quincy Ballard fouled Bryan Greenlee. His free throws gave the Owls a 74-73 lead with 30 seconds to play. The Koch Arena crowd again registered its objections to the call that didn't go the home team's way.
 
Bell drove into the lane and drew a foul with 15 seconds to play. His first free throw bounced around the rim and out. He made the second to tie the game and get the Shockers into overtime.
 
FAU will return to the NCAA Tournament in March, boosted by a 3-1 record in overtime games to this point, a three-point win over North Texas and a one-point win over Tulane. Experience, toughness, and strategy all help win close games. May, in his sixth season at FAU, also knows there's good fortune involved.
 
Sticking with the plan, regardless of those frustrating outcomes, is the only way to turn things in a better direction. The 2021-22 Owls went 19-15 and lost six games by four points or less and another game in overtime.
 
"You stay the course," May said. "If you're in one-possession games, all of us are about the same talent. Some of us have a little more experience or this or that. I think our guys have a belief they're going to find a way."
 
 

7-0 RUN 😤 pic.twitter.com/Zam4BwqwCp

— Wichita State Men's Basketball (@GoShockersMBB) February 11, 2024

 
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.