Field Level Media
Jan 12, 2020
No. 23 Wichita State recovered after giving up a nine-point lead in the final minute of regulation to beat American Athletic Conference counterpart Connecticut 89-86 in double-overtime on Sunday at Hartford, Conn.
Jaime Echenique led four Shockers in double figures by scoring 19 points before fouling out in the second overtime. Erik Stevenson scored 16 points despite sitting for extended periods in the second half due to foul trouble. He fouled out in the first overtime.
Dexter Dennis added 16 points off the bench, and Jamarius Burton scored 13 points for Wichita State.
Christian Vital poured in 25 points for the Huskies but his shot to force a third overtime bounced off the rim. Connecticut was playing without starting forward Tyler Polley, who is out for the season after a knee injury in practice Friday.
The Shockers (15-1, 3-0 American) led much of the way, using an 8-1 burst in the first half that gave them a double-digit-point advantage. The visitors held Connecticut at bay for much of the second half until the final minute.
Echenique scored four straight points on a pair of free throws and a dunk that extended Wichita State's lead to nine points with just over two minutes remaining. Stevenson knocked down two more foul shots to keep the deficit at nine with just over a minute left.
Connecticut (10-6, 1-3) implemented a full-court press that flustered Wichita State. The Huskies came roaring back, scoring nine points in 67 seconds. Sidney Wilson capped the run and forced overtime with a 3-pointer and one second left on the clock.
James Bouknight added 16 points for UConn. Alterique Gilbert scored 14 points, Josh Carlton added 13 and Wilson had 12.
Neither team gained an upper hand in the first extra frame. Burton got a clean look at a would-be game-winning jumper in overtime. It rimmed out, as did Tyson Etienne's follow-up tip attempt.
But Etienne made up for it to open double-overtime, coming up with the ball on the opening tipoff and scoring an and-one. His three-point play gave Wichita State a lead in the final frame the Shockers never relinquished, though Connecticut remained in striking distance throughout.
Burton scored on a jump shot from almost the same spot he missed in overtime that put Wichita State ahead four points. Vital responded with a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game but the Shockers held on.
--Field Level Media