Wichita State's journey in the American Athletic Conference Championship ended in the quarterfinals with a 72-60 loss to UAB, concluding the season with a 15-19 record. The team secured wins in the AAC Championship, notably defeating No. 5 seed Memphis in the second round. Despite a 2-point lead, an 11-0 run by UAB pushed Wichita State into a 9-point deficit that they couldn't recover from. Harlond Beverly and Xavier Bell each scored 14 points, with Bell's contributions entirely in the second half. Colby Rogers added 10 points but struggled with shooting efficiency.

By the Numbers
  • Quincy Ballard grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds and blocked four shots, totaling 74 blocks for the season, the second-highest in school history.
  • Wichita State shot below 40% from the field and only made 5 of 20 three-point attempts.
State of Play
  • The game featured six ties and five lead changes in the first half, with UAB leading 33-31 at halftime.
  • UAB capitalized on offensive rebounds and turnovers, securing 16 offensive boards and scoring 11 points off Wichita State's turnovers.
  • UAB went on an 11-0 run in the second half, fueled by crucial plays and efficient scoring, keeping Wichita State at bay until the end.
Bottom Line

The defeat marked the end of Wichita State's conference championship run, highlighting the team's efforts and struggles in the game. Despite a valiant effort, Wichita State fell short against UAB, ending the season with a mix of achievements and setbacks.