For most of the past three months, things got better and better for Wichita State. It won close games. It heated up in February, won the big game and took control of the conference race for good.
Saturday, things slipped out of its control for the first time since early December. Fifth-seeded Cincinnati knocked off the top-seeded Shockers 60-59 in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Championship in Fort Worth.
"Heart-breaker," Wichita State guard Tyson Etienne said. "They did what we do. Don't go away."
The Bearcats (12-10) advance to Sunday's championship game.