Trio of newcomers lead Wichita State basketball to second exhibition win in Greece

Given the chance to experiment in the summer, Wichita State men’s basketball coach Paul Mills is capitalizing on the opportunity.

In the Shockers’ second game in their Greece exhibition tour on Monday, the new head coach took an extended look at the games of some of the new transfers in the program.

Wichita State won 84-70 over the University of Calgary in an exhibition game played in Zografou, but the score was hardly the point of Monday’s game for the coaching staff.

It was to see what Harlond Beverly, a 6-foot-6 wing who hardly handled the ball at Miami, could do given the chance to play point guard.

It was to give Ronnie DeGray III, a 6-6 forward who fell out of favor at Missouri last season, the chance to show what he could do in extended minutes.

It was to give Dalen Ridgnal, a sharpshooting 6-7 forward who just signed with the Shockers, the opportunity to make up for lost time and begin to build chemistry on the court with his new teammates.

With Mills opting to not play projected starters Colby Rogers and Kenny Pohto, veterans in the program who have proven themselves, a new cast of players emerged to lead the way in Zografou, which made Monday’s game an even larger success.

Beverly, now completely recovered from back surgery, showcased improved ball-handling and decision-making in leading the offense to the tune of 16 points, while DeGray thrived in the second half to finish with a team-high 19 points. Ridgnal was once again a presence on the court for the Shockers and scored 12 points.

Beverly (3.5 points at Miami), DeGray (2.1 points at Missouri) and Ridgnal (5.0 points at Missouri State) should all see their roles increase at Wichita State. DeGray will need a waiver from the NCAA as a second-time undergraduate transfer to play immediately for the Shockers.

All three transfers were promoted to the starting lineup after WSU’s first game, joined by two returners with little experience in guard Jalen Ricks and center Quincy Ballard. Ballard, a 7-footer, continued his strong showing in Greece with another 16 points on Monday. Meanwhile, Pohto and Rogers were held out and Xavier Bell, another returner with experience, came off the bench on Monday after starting the first game.

Beverly controlled the game early for WSU, using his size advantage and quickness to penetrate the lane and either draw a foul or finish to help stake the Shockers to a 28-22 lead after the first quarter. The game was played by FIBA rules, which includes four 10-minute quarters and a 24-second shot clock.

Beverly, Ballard and Bell scored all of the points during an 11-3 run to open the second quarter, as Beverly and Ballard finished with a combined 21 first-half points and WSU took a 48-34 lead into halftime.

A flurry from Calgary saw the Dinos cut the deficit to 57-54 late in the third quarter, but WSU responded to a Mills timeout and scored the final four points of the quarter to extend its lead to 61-54.

DeGray continued the hot streak to start the fourth quarter, rattling off six straight points to push WSU’s lead to 71-58. The Shockers were able to win their second game in Greece in comfort down the stretch.

Calgary is considered one of Canada’s top university programs and is coached by Dan Vanhooren, who is also the head coach of the Canadian national junior team. The program won the U Sports national championship in 2018. The team is coming off a 16-15 season and has the talent level of “a good low-major college basketball team,” according to Canadian basketball scout Wes Brown.

Following a 76-60 win in Thessaloniki this past Friday, WSU made the six-hour trek south to Greece’s capital. The weekend of sightseeing was highlighted by a trip to the Acropolis of Athens, one of the most iconic landmarks in Greece, as well as a visit to the site of the Battle of Thermopylae, which inspired the movie “300.”

The Shockers will spend the remainder of their trip in Athens, as Zografou is just east of the city. WSU is set to play Calgary in a rematch at noon Central on Wednesday to conclude the exhibition tour, then begin its long journey home to Wichita on Thursday.

The Greek club, which Giannis Antetokounmpo played for before becoming an MVP and world champion in the NBA, plays in the same gym that the Shockers played in Zografou. The gym has seen been renamed “AntetokounBros.”

WSU is playing without three players: OU transfer point guard Bijan Cortes, who is working to become academically eligible; UTSA graduate transfer center Jacob Germany, who did not travel with WSU due to a family emergency; and walk-on point guard Trevor McBride, who is in a walking boot following an ankle injury.