VCU @ Wichita St. preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 22, 2018 ) Wichita St. 54, VCU 70

Wichita State will look to remain undefeated at home and capture its fourth consecutive win overall Saturday when the Shockers host No. 25 VCU. The Shockers will have had seven days to enjoy their 80-75 win over Oklahoma last Saturday – a significant achievement for coach Gregg Marshall’s squad after they suffered a humiliating 80-48 loss to the Sooners a season ago.

Wichita State was outrebounded by 19 in last season’s 32-point blowout loss – both marks the worst of Marshall’s 13 seasons with the program – but finished with a plus-17 effort on the boards this time around while outscoring the Sooners 34-12 in the paint. “What a difference a year makes is my first thought,” Marshall told the media. “To have the opportunity to watch our team demonstrate the resolve and the toughness today was just a testament to them and how they've grown and how they know now what it takes to win against a very talented team and a well-coached team like Oklahoma. I'm so proud of our guys." Sophomore Erik Stevenson hit four 3-pointers en route to a team-high 16 points against the Sooners while junior transfer Trey Wade totaled 11 points and 15 rebounds – the most by a Shockers player since Ron Baker grabbed 15 against Evansville in 2015. VCU enters Saturday’s contest riding a three-game winning streak after junior forward Marcus Santos-Silva notched his fourth double-double of the season (17 points, 11 rebounds) and led the Rams to a 76-71 triumph over Charleston College on Wednesday.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT VCU (9-2): In the Rams’ first true road contest of the season Wednesday, they allowed Charleston to shoot 68-percent from the floor in the first half (17-for-25), but erased an eight-point halftime deficit by holding the Cougars to a 4-for-22 effort to begin the second frame. Senior guard De’Riante Jenkins matched a season-high with 16 points Wednesday while fellow senior Marcus Evans tallied 16 himself, knocking down all eight of his free throw attempts. Santos-Silva is averaging a team-leading 13.5 points per game on 61.2 percent shooting – the second-best percentage in the Atlantic 10 conference and 30th nationally entering Friday.

ABOUT WICHITA STATE (9-1): Down four at the half against the Sooners, freshman Grant Sherfield led the Shockers’ comeback as he scored 12 of his 14 points after halftime while adding three assists and a career-high six rebounds. “I was just trying to touch paint every time and create for my teammates,” Sherfield told reporters. "You want to try to play your best against the best opponents. I'm just happy that I was able to do that today. I was happy I was able to control the pace, find others, and create for myself." Freshman guard Tyson Etienne is second in the American Athletic Conference entering Friday in 3-pointers made (26), while his 45.6 percent success rate from downtown leads the league and is 27th-best in the country.

TIP-INS

1. It took the Shockers until Jan. 31 to claim their ninth victory last season and they’ve gone 23-5 since their 8-11 start last campaign.

2. VCU and Wichita State have each won seven road games in a row - tied for the second longest streak in the nation.

3. Jenkins and Evans scored 15 points apiece as the Rams handed the visiting Shockers a 70-54 setback in their last meeting on Dec. 22, 2018.

PREDICTION: Wichita State 75, VCU 69