LOS ANGELES, CA – With all the attention lavished upon Florida Gulf Coast University, 13th-seeded La Salle was hoping to keep flying under the radar as a Tournament Cinderella, and quietly keep carving out a path to the Final Four.
But Wichita State was hardly in a mood to cooperate with those plans.
For the first time in 32 years, the Shockers have advanced to the Elite Eight, courtesy of a 72-58 victory over the Explorers. Wichita State was in control of this game from start to finish, leading by as many as 22 at one point. Malcolm Armstead led the way with 18 points, with Carl Hall adding 16 for the Shockers. Tyrone Garland and Jerrell Wright each paced La Salle with 16, who ended a fabulous Tournament run which began in the First Four with a win over Boise State, leading to upset victories of Kansas State and Ole Miss to reach the Sweet Sixteen.
Wichita State will seek its second-ever trip to the Final Four when they battle 2nd-seeded Ohio State on Saturday.
Wayne Larrivee and Bill Frieder called the action on Westwood One Sports.
(Carl Hall explodes out of the gate with 10 early points, to give Shockers 14-2 lead)
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(Ramon Galloway connects from outside the arc, as La Salle cut the deficit to eight)
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(Wichita State responds as blocked shot leads to another basket for Hall)
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(Shockers draining three-balls left and right, as the lead grows to 44-22)
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(La Salle not going away quietly, as Galloway scores three more to cap 10-0 run by Explorers)
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(Ron Baker gets Shockers back on track with a three to bump lead back to 15)
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(Wichita State back in the Elite Eight for the first time in 32 years!)
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(Postgame interview with Wichita State’s Malcolm Armstead)
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For our complete NCAA Tournament schedule, CLICK HERE.
