NEW YORK CITY — Markis McDuffie will have a place in the Wichita State history books.

He scored the third-most points of any Shocker in a single season, behind Xavier McDaniel and Dave Stallworth, who’s numbers hang in the rafters at Charles Koch Arena. At the heart of it, McDuffie doesn’t have a regret from his four-year career at Wichita State.

“It’s just been an amazing ride,” McDuffie. “I knew when I wanted to commit, I wanted to make sure I’m loyal to this school, loyal to this community and I have been and it’s been nothing but amazing.”

“These are my family forever and ever,” McDuffie said. “I appreciate the brotherhood we’ve had here. They’ve helped grow me as a man.”

McDuffie said it still felt like he had another year left. He was a part of four years of Shocker basketball, filled with four post-season trips. From his freshman year as the Missouri Valley Freshman of the Year to his year as a senior leader, he feels fulfilled. McDuffie wanted fans to remember his always-positive, friendly attitude. He said that was more significant than any series of wins or records.

“I just want to be remembered as someone who is always positive, always worked super hard and never let anything get to me,” McDuffie said.

That was before McDuffie lead the Shockers to the National Invitation Tournament semifinals in Madison Square Garden and delivered Head Coach Gregg Marshall his 500th career win. His career ended a game shy of the NIT championship.

“It’s hard to be disappointed with this group,” Marshall said. “It’s disappointing that we’re not playing for a championship.”

Marshall reflected on his two seniors.

“I told them I loved them,” Marshall said. “I told them I would be there for the rest of their lives.

“I told them that they were a bridge for what was a very, very bright future.”

Wichita State returned to the National Invitation Tournament semifinals in its second straight appearance in the tournament. The Shockers won the tournament in its last NIT appearance in 2011.

“Those two guys, (McDuffie and Samajae Haynes-Jones), never wavered,” Marshall said ahead of the game. “They didn’t throw the young kinds under the bus. They were positive. They were disgruntled. They were upset, angry at times, as we all were; but they never threw anyone under the bus.”

Haynes-Jones, his roommate, praised McDuffie’s ability to stay poised during adversity. When the team was three games below a .500 record, when the Shockers lost to Oklahoma by 32 and when it lost six of its first seven conference games, McDuffie stayed poised.

“He was our leader, our backbone,” Haynes-Jones said of McDuffie. “He made me grow up in a lot of ways. He was always positive despite all the adversity in his life and with this team. He always stayed poised. It reflected on us in a great way.”

McDuffie and Haynes-Jones checked out of the game in the final seconds. In the locker room following the game, Haynes-Jones was processing the moment. A media relations liaison pulled him away for a press conference. Smiling, he tried to hide his expressions. He still couldn’t process that this was end of his brief two-year stint with Wichita State, the home team of the city he grew up in.

“I’m just reflecting on all of it right now,” Haynes-Jones said, “from my high school year to right now. It’s been a blessing.”

Wichita State’s season ends at 22-15. The Shockers became the first team in AAC history to finish with better than seven wins after winning just one of its first seven in conference play. Gregg Marshall’s group won 11 of its last 13 games of the regular season and lost in the semifinals to Cincinnati in the AAC tournament.

Gregg Marshall won his 500th career victory as a coach in the team’s win against Furman. He became the 10th NCAA coach to reach the mark before the end of his 21st season.

Wichita State will return a nearly complete lineup next season, having graduating just McDuffie and senior point guard Haynes-Jones. The Shockers have three commitments joining the team next season, and will be joined by Teddy Allen who sat out for transfer reasons this season.