Wichita State accomplished everything it could have wanted in its first game in the American Athletic Conference tournament on Thursday night at FedExForum.
The sixth-seeded Shockers easily handled 11th-seeded East Carolina in a 73-57 victory, beating the Pirates for the third time this season. Although the final stats won’t show it, WSU shot well, defended well and dominated the rebounding battle when it mattered most to win for the 10th time in its last 12 games and advance to an 8 p.m. semifinal Friday against third-seeded Temple.
It’s a tantalizing matchup, one that pits a team in WSU (18-13) desperately trying to extend its postseason streak against one in Temple (23-8) desperately clinging to its spot on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble.