NEW YORK — J.T. Durley and Graham Hatch scored 12 points each to lead a balanced offense, and fourth-seeded Wichita State simply overwhelmed top-seeded Alabama 66-57 on Thursday night to win the NIT championship at Madison Square Garden.
Hatch was 4-for-4 from beyond the arc, including back-to-back shots in the closing minutes, as the Shockers (29-8) finished up a remarkable postseason run in style.
“We obviously, as a team, have gone through a roller coaster,” Hatch said. “We came back from those disappointments, we pulled together, and it’s just magical. It’s unbelievable.”
After getting left out of the NCAA Tournament — and after hardly any critics argued on their behalf — the Shockers left little doubt they should have been selected. They beat Nebraska by 27 points, won at Virginia Tech, beat College of Charleston, then set a school record for wins in a season with a 75-44 romp over Washington State in the semifinals.
