Wichita State Athletics

STATELINE, Nev. – Wichita State battled No. 21/22 down to the final seconds Sunday night in the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic, but the Trojans pulled away late for a 93-86 victory at the Tahoe Blue Event Center.

Wichita State (1-1) led 45-43 at halftime and remained within striking distance throughout the second half, but USC (2-0) used a late scoring surge to secure the win.

Michael Gray Jr. led Wichita State with 18 points, connecting on five three-pointers, while William Berg and Jordan Frison each added 17 points. Berg recorded his second straight double-double with 11 rebounds, and Frison contributed six assists.

Wichita State shot 48.1 percent from the field (26-for-54) and knocked down nine three-pointers. The Shockers also held a 38-34 rebounding advantage and scored 43 points off the bench.

USC's duo of Alijah Arenas and Rodney Rice combined for 62 points.

The Trojans opened the game with an early 9-3 advantage, but Wichita State steadily worked its way back into the contest. Berg scored inside to get the Shockers on the board, and Bryce Heard connected from beyond the arc to cut into the deficit.

After USC pushed its lead to seven at 18-11, Wichita State responded with a Jaret Valencia basket and a Frison fast-break finish. Gray Jr. then buried a three-pointer to tie the game at 20-20 with 11:59 remaining in the half.

The teams traded baskets before Wichita State took control. Dillon Battie and Gray Jr. connected on consecutive three-pointers, and Gray Jr. added a free throw to help the Shockers build a five-point advantage.

Kenyon Giles knocked down a three-pointer and later added a basket to help Wichita State extend its lead to 11, its largest of the game, at 41-30 with 3:51 remaining.

USC responded with a late run, closing the gap behind Alijah Arenas and Rodney Rice. Rice tied the game at 43-43 with 38 seconds remaining, but Frison scored on a fast break with one second left to send Wichita State into the locker room with a 45-43 advantage. 

Gray Jr. scored 10 points in the opening half, going a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range, while Berg added seven points and four rebounds. Wichita State shot 46.9 percent from the field and 58.3 percent from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes.

USC took its first lead since the opening minutes when Rice converted three free throws to open the second half. The Trojans built a five-point advantage before Gray Jr. answered with a three-pointer to tie the game at 50-50.

The teams continued exchanging leads, with Wichita State getting contributions from Battie, Frison and Berg. Gray Jr. connected on another three-pointer off a turnover to give the Shockers a 53-52 lead, and Frison's free throws later tied the game at 55-55.

Berg's second-chance layup tied the contest at 57-57, and Rice and Frison continued trading baskets as the game remained tight. Wichita State regained the lead at 62-61 on Valencia's free throws before USC answered with a second-chance basket.

The Trojans gradually built a six-point advantage, but Wichita State continued to fight. Berg and Battie scored inside, and Frison added a pair of baskets to keep the Shockers within reach.

With 5:43 remaining, Frison's layup cut USC's lead to 75-73. Wichita State continued to pressure the Trojans, and Giles knocked down a jumper with 3:25 remaining to make it a three-point game at 81-78.

Rice answered with a basket, but Wichita State stayed within striking distance. A Hughes dunk off a turnover and a Giles basket kept the Shockers within three before Rice pushed the USC advantage back to five.

Rice's free throws and a late Arenas trip to the line helped the Trojans maintain their lead in the closing seconds. Frison scored on a fast-break layup with 58 seconds remaining, but USC converted enough free throws down the stretch to seal the seven-point victory.