ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Markis McDuffie scored a career-high 32 points and sparked a second-half run that carried Wichita State past Providence 83-80 Friday night.
Playing at the Naval Academy in the opener of the Veteran's Classic, the Shockers (1-1) bounced back from an early 10-point deficit to avoid their first 0-2 start since 1990.
Alpha Diallo had a career-high 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Friars (1-1), who trailed the entire second half.
Wichita State was clinging to a 51-49 lead before McDuffie made a four-point play. That launched an 11-2 spurt for an 11-point cushion with 12:55 left.