They play as fast as any team I’ve coached against, maybe ever. – Gregg Marshall, Wichita State coach
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Less than one week after falling at home to nationally ranked Iowa State, BYU has another shot to upset a ranked foe Tuesday night.
The Cougars take on No. 12 Wichita State (8 p.m., MST, ESPN2) in the championship game of the CBE Hall of Fame Classic at the Sprint Center.
BYU has lost 10 of its last 11 games against ranked teams, and has dropped five in a row since a victory over then-No. 24 Gonzaga in 2012.
The Shockers (6-0), who knocked off then-No. 1 seed Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament last March, are beating their opponents by an average of 22 points, and limiting opponents to 40 percent shooting from the field.
Wichita State defeated DePaul, 90-72, Monday. The Shockers are expecting a stiffer test Tuesday.
"They play as fast as any team I've coached against, maybe ever," Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said of BYU. "They really push that ball, and they have so many weapons. These games are going to steadily get harder."
The Cougars edged Texas, 86-82, in Monday's first game.
"Our guys fought hard, we have a good basketball team and (BYU) is a good team," said Longhorns coach Rick Barnes. "They’re an older group of guys. I don’t think there is a senior on either group, but we know they are older."
Added Barnes: "I told my team that (BYU) is scoring 96 points per game. I said, 'I wanted us to score 100.' I told my guys that they can’t rebound with us and they can’t run with us. The first timeout, I said, ‘I told you guys that and they came out and played zone. I said, ‘They are telling you something right now. They got everybody back (on defense) because they did not want to deal with the guards coming at them….. Rebounding (advantage), I am not surprised. I thought we could win the game."
Tyler Haws scored 25 points against Texas, including 11 of BYU's final 12 points. Matt Carlino knocked down five 3-pointers and finished with 20 points. Eric Mika and Frank Bartley IV finished with 15 and 11 points, respectively.
Wichita State is led by sophomore guard Ron Baker, who poured in a career-high 21 points last week at Tulsa, and Tekele Cotton, who scored 17 against DePaul.
BYU and Wichita State are meeting for the first time since Jan. 28, 1989. The Shockers are 6-1 all-time against the Cougars.