David Kyles scored 13 points and hit four of Wichita State's 11 3-pointers in a 76-49 victory over Nebraska on Wednesday night in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.
J.T. Durley had 12 points and Graham Hatch added 11 for Wichita State (25-8), which will play at the Bethune Cookman-Virginia Tech winner in the second round.
''That's about as well as we've played in quite a while,'' Shockers coach Gregg Marshall said.
Jorge Brian Diaz and Lance Jeter each scored 12 for the Cornhuskers (19-13), who ended their season with three straight losses.
Wichita State went 11 of 26 from 3-point range, while Nebraska was just 2 for 18.
''When you get outscored by 27 from the 3-point line, you're not going to win many games,'' Huskers coach Doc Sadler said.
Playing without injured center Andre Almeida, Nebraska missed its first seven shots and trailed 10-0.
''We didn't give them any pressure from the get go,'' Sadler said.
Wichita State went 6 of 11 from 3-point range in the first half to take a 40-20 lead at the break, only the third time a Nebraska opponent has scored at least 40 first-half points this season. Only Iowa State (41) and Kansas (42) scored more first-half points against the Huskers this season.
''Offensively, we really passed the ball well, and we did it against a great defensive team,'' Marshall said. ''We really passed the ball.''
Wichita State started the second half on a 7-2 run, capped by Joe Ragland's no-look pass to Gabe Blair for an easy lay-in. Less than a minute later, Ragland hit a 3-pointer to put the Shockers up 50-23. Nebraska was never closer than 21 after that.
''After (beating) Texas, we lost five of six,'' Sadler said. ''We just aren't tough enough on the road, that's why we only won one road game. And tonight, it wasn't good enough against a very, very good team.''
