Rashard Kelly and Zach Brown working hard on defense, harassing dribblers, deflecting passes, always in the way.
Wichita State won a lot of basketball games from 2014-18 with those two shining in those roles. On Friday, they flashed back to help the AfterShocks survive miserable shooting to defeat Ex-Pats 60-53 in the first round of The Basketball Tournament at Koch Arena.
That sets up Sunday's Missouri Valley Conference rivalry against the Omaha Blue Crew – Creighton alums – at 3 p.m.
When the AfterShocks couldn't hit a shot, Kelly and Brown kept them energized with their effort.