NEW YORK, March 31 (UPI) -- David Kyles touched off an eight-point second-half run Thursday that carried Wichita to the championship of the NIT with a 66-57 win over Alabama.
Kyles hit a 3-pointer to break a 43-43 tie and the Shockers held Alabama scoreless for 4:32 while taking a 51-43 advantage. Those were the only points Kyles scored in the game.
Wichita State, which finished second in the regular-season Missouri Valley Conference race, won its first NIT. Graham Hatch and J.T. Durley both had 12 points for the Shockers, who defeated Nebraska, Virginia Tech, Charleston and Washington State to get to the championship game.
The Shockers compiled a 29-8 record.
Alabama (25-12) was led by Tony Mitchell with 13 points. The Crimson Tide won the West Division of the Southeastern Conference this season, but were left out of the NCAA Tournament after losing to Kentucky in the semifinals of the league tourney.
