TULSA, Okla. — Opportunities to face the same opponent four times in a single season are rare; rarer still is when the final meeting carries such significant stakes.

On Tuesday night, Wichita State found itself in exactly that position, taking on conference rival Tulsa in the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament with a trip to the Final Four in Indianapolis on the line.

Fresh off a commanding 26-point victory over Oklahoma State, the Shockers entered with momentum and a chance to solidify themselves as dangerous road contenders. Instead, the game unraveled quickly for them at the Reynolds Center.

Wichita State fell behind by 21 in the first nine minutes — and 24 soon after — effectively spotting Tulsa the game’s margin before halftime. Although the Shockers mounted a comeback and took the lead midway through the second half, they ultimately fell, 83-79, ending their season at the hands of a long-standing rival.

“I thought it was a really good basketball game,” WSU coach Paul Mills said with a gleam in his eyes after the game. “You tip your hat to those guys. They made a number of plays.”

The Shockers finished the year 24-12 — the most wins under Mills in his three-year tenure and most in eight seasons — but the Reynolds Center remains a hurdle, as he’s yet to secure a victory there while at WSU.

Redshirt freshman TJ Williams led the way with 19 points on an efficient 7-for-12 clip, while sophomore Dillon Battie added 17 points, showing consistency at the free throw line for a 7-of-7 night at the stripe. Seniors Karon Boyd and Kenyon Giles, playing in their final collegiate game, contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively.

“We just went out fighting,” Giles said. “It sucks. But this team’s a brotherhood.”

From the opening possession, Wichita State’s identity was tested. 

Tulsa seized early control, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities and defensive pressure that forced Wichita State onto its heels. The Shockers struggled to find rhythm offensively and were limited on the glass, turning few extra possessions into meaningful production.

They even missed 10 shots in a row during a stretch in the first half and trailed by 24 points at one point.

Tulsa’s performance during the opening 20 minutes was clinical. Efficient shooting (46.2% on 18-of-39 attempts), disciplined defense, and transition execution allowed the Golden Hurricane to build a commanding 52-36 lead before halftime. A prolonged stretch of near-flawless scoring — nine consecutive buckets — only deepened Wichita State’s early deficit.

While the Shockers have often relied on their ability to respond to adversity, that counterpunch never materialized in the first half.

It came after the break.

Battie sparked the turnaround, scoring seven of the Shockers’ first 10 points early in the second half, energizing both the bench and the traveling Wichita State supporters. His play helped shift momentum, as the Shockers gradually chipped away at the deficit with increased composure on the road.

The game tightened considerably midway through the period. Wichita State battled back to even the score at 66, and briefly took the lead, fueled by contributions from Williams, Giles and Boyd — in both transition and at the free throw line.

Williams found space after grabbing a defensive rebound for a dunk. Giles picked off a pass soon after and fed Boyd, who slammed one of his own. The Shockers hit eight free throws on eight attempts, and it was a brand-new ball game.

“We’re not going to do it all in one play,” Williams said. “That’s kind of been the message all year when we started down early and teams punched us. It’s just how we respond.

“All year we’ve responded. So tonight, it wasn’t a news flash for us. We always knew we could do that.”

But the surge proved short-lived. Despite late efforts to close the gap and take the lead, Wichita State couldn’t hold off the Golden Hurricane to complete the comeback for good.

Tulsa’s poise in the final moments sealed the result, as it capitalized on key possessions and controlled the final stretch. A 6-0 burst with 1:21 to play and a late rebound that slipped away from Wichita State sealed the outcome.

The Golden Hurricane now advances to the NIT Final Four, where they will face New Mexico on April 2 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

“It’s very cliche, but it’s not about how you start. It’s how you finish,” Giles said. “This game just showed that.

“Down 26-6 to a really good Tulsa team, 25-plus-win team, we were one possession away from winning.”

For Wichita State, the loss brings an end to a season that, while falling short of its ultimate goal, reflected clear progress and a building block for future seasons.

“It would be really hard to say how much these guys have meant,” Mills said. “In my opinion, they’ve revived a program.

“There’s an enthusiasm on account of what these guys have done in their commitment, and they’ve set a pretty high bar.”