Field Level Media
Feb 22, 2018
Shaquille Morris tied his career high with 25 points as 13th-ranked Wichita State defeated Tulane 93-86 on Wednesday in an American Athletic Conference game at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kan.
Wichita State led 47-31 at the half but held on after Tulane got as close as four points several times late in the second half.
The Shockers played without star guard Landry Shamet for the first time in two years. Shamet, who had played 61 consecutive games, was on the sideline, but he was too ill to play, perhaps due to food poisoning. He leads the AAC in assists (5.2 per game) and tops the Shockers in points (14.7 per game).
Wichita State senior guard Conner Frankamp, who started in place of Shamet, tied a career high with 18 points. Austin Reaves added 10 points for the Shockers.
This was the first-ever game between the programs. This is also the first season in the league for the Shockers (22-5, 12-3).
Morris, the reigning AAC Player of the Week, added a team-high nine rebounds and two blocks. His effort helped the Shockers move to within a half-game of first place in the league, a spot currently held by Cincinnati.
Tulane, which has lost six consecutive games, was led by Melvin Frazier's 22 points and Samir Sehic's 16 points. The Green Wave, who won just six games last season, are still one of the five most-improved teams in the nation.
However, the Green Wave (13-14, 4-11) haven't beaten a ranked team since December of 1999.
Cameron Reynolds, the only senior on Tulane's roster, fouled out with 1:44 left, leaving the game with 14 points.
Tulane guard Ray Ona Embo, who didn't play on Saturday against Memphis due to a hand injury, returned to the lineup and scored 12 points. Caleb Daniels added 11 points for the Green Wave.
--Field Level Media