MEMPHIS, TENN. - Markis McDuffie registered 15 points as No. 6 Wichita State beat No. 11 ECU, 73-57, in the 2019 Air Force Reserve American Athletic Conference Championship first round on Thursday night at FedExForum.
McDuffie was one of four Shockers to hit double-digit points as Wichita State (18-13) won its second American tournament game to advance to its second-straight quarterfinal round.
The Shockers shot 50-percent from the field in the first half for a 39-27 advantage at the break. Wichita State then ramped up its defense in the second stanza to hold ECU (10-21) to 35-percent shooting and the advancing win.
McDuffie did his damage at the free throw line as he made 11-of-12 from the charity stripe.
Jaime Echenique had 14 points and nine rebounds for Wichita State. Dexter Dennis added 13 points with three 3-pointer while Asbjorn Midtgaard had 10 points and seven rebounds for the Shockers.
Jayden Gardner scored a game-high 16 points and became just the third American Athletic Conference freshman to hit 500 points, joining Memphis' Dedric Lawson (521) and Jahmal McMurray (500) who accomplished the feat at USF before transferring to SMU.
Gardner went 6-of-9 from the field and 4-of-5 from the line to go along with six rebounds and two assists in over 34 minutes of action.
Shawn Williams added 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Isaac Fleming had 12 points and seven assists.
Wichita State outrebounded ECU, 44-32, including a 17-6 mark on the offensive glass. The Shockers also owned a 34-20 edge in the paint and came up big in its second-chance opportunities with 23 points to just four for the Pirates.
Wichita State will take on No. 3 Temple at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, Friday, March 15 on ESPNU.