IRVINE, Calif. — Wichita State mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback, outscoring UC Irvine 22-16 in the final frame, but the late surge wasn't enough to erase an early deficit as the Shockers fell 58-52 Friday afternoon inside the Bren Events Center.
 
Trailing by as many as 20 midway through the third quarter, Wichita State flipped the energy in the final 10 minutes behind its most efficient offensive stretch of the game. The Shockers shot 62.5 percent in the fourth and held the Anteaters to just one made field goal over the final seven minutes, to claw within four in the final minute.
 
Graduate guard Jaila Harding led the Shockers with a season-high 21 points on an impressive 8-for-15 shooting performance, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. Harding delivered eight points in the third quarter and rattled off seven more in the fourth during the comeback push.
 
Taya Davis added seven points, six assists, and three rebounds, orchestrating a Shocker offense that generated 28 points in the paint.
 
Maimouna Sissoko anchored the interior with nine rebounds and four points, while Treasure Thompson chipped in four points and six boards.
 
After a cold first half in which the Shockers shot 29.6% and trailed 37-19, Wichita State responded with one of its best defensive quarters of the season, holding UC Irvine to just 2-of-15 shooting in the third to close the gap to 12 entering the fourth.
 
Harding's transition three with 49 seconds left trimmed the deficit to 53-48, but UC Irvine converted at the line in the final minute to hold on.
 
UC Irvine's Hunter Hernandez led the Anteaters with a game-high 20 points, including 13-of-16 from the free throw line, helping UCI fend off WSU's late momentum.
 
For the fifth time in seven games, the Shockers have gone to the line for 10 or less free throw attempts, while UC Irvine shot 18-for-22 from the charity stripe, the fifth time a Wichita State opponent has shot more than 20 free throws this season.
 
The Shockers return to Bren Events Center to face Idaho Saturday afternoon for their second game of the UC Irvine ZotGiving Classic, taking on the Vandals at 4 p.m. CT.