(WSU) Wichita State rallied for a 68-67 win over South Florida to advance to the American Athletic Conference Semi-finals.
Tyson Etienne scored a game-high 20 points for the top-seeded Shockers (16-4), who trailed by a dozen with 12:26 to play but found a way to advance. Alterique Gilbert added 12 points and Morris Udeze grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds.
Etienne made two free throws with eight seconds left to put WSU in front by a point, and Udeze drew a charge on the other end to deny the Bulls a potential game-winning shot with four seconds to play.
USF jumped out to leads of 13-2 and 23-13 in the first half. WSU answered with a 17-2 push and led by five points near the 4:00-mark before USF finished the half on a 14-0 run.
The Bulls expanded a 41-32 halftime lead to 55-43 with 12:26 to play.
Wichita State will play Cincinnati in the semifinals Saturday. The other semifinal has Houston playing Memphis.
The AAC Championship game will be played Sunday and will be broadcast on KVOE 1400AM/96.9FM.
