2013 NCAA Tournament: Wichita State Beats Pittsburgh, 73-55

Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
In the early stages of the 2013 NCAA Tournament’s Round of 64, the eighth seeded Pitt Panthers were fried by the electric play of the Wichita State Shockers, 73-55 in Salt Lake City.

Wichita State closed the first half on a 7-0 run and never looked back, opening a second half lead to many as 18.

Guard Malcom Armstead led the way for the Shockers with 22 points, the most points in an NCAA Tournament game for a Wichita State player since 1985.

Pitt was in foul trouble from the start, with four players with at least four fouls, including the fouling out of guard Tray Woodall. The result was an astounding 41 free throw attempts for Wichita State, who made them at an 80 percent clip.

For Pitt, it could be the end of the Jamie Dixon era, as the head coach has been rumored to in the thick of things for USC’s job vacancy following the dismissal of Kevin O’Neill back in January. Dixon refused to comment on the Trojans in Wednesday’s press conference, but as the Panthers enter the offseason, it’ll be an interesting story line to follow.

With the win, Wichita State presumably punched their ticket for a bout with No. 1 seed Gonzaga, who will square off this afternoon against SWAC Champion, Southern.