Wichita State Shockers forward Chadrack Lufile (0), Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Elias Harris (20) and Shockers guard Ron Baker (31) battle for position in the first half of the game during the third round of the NCAA basketball tournament at EnergySolutions Arena. (Photo: Steve Dykes, USA TODAY Sports) SALT LAKE CITY — There was nothing intimidating to Wichita State about the No. 1 beside Gonzaga's name on the NCAA Tournament bracket. The No. 9-seed Shockers knocked Gonzaga from the NCAA tournament with a stunning 76-70 win Saturday at EnergySolutions Arena. NCAA TOURNAMENT: Updated bracket BOX SCORE: Wichita State 76, Gonzaga 70 Gonzaga is the first top seed to be eliminated, while Wichita State advances to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2006. "This is a wonderful moment for our program and our city," Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said after the game in a TV interview. "This is the epitome of a team, they don't care about individual stats." The No. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 seeds have now fallen in the wild West regional. Even after Gonzaga built a seven-point lead with 6:30 to play, Wichita State just kept coming. Cleanthony Early and Ron Baker drained back-to-back threes and Carl Hall hit a jump shot to retake the lead. "It's a dream come true, really," Baker said. "The feeling is unimaginable." MARCH SADNESS: Teams on the wrong end of NCAAs For as dominant as Gonzaga center Kelly Olynyk was for a 14-minute stretch to start the second half, Wichita State's shooters were hotter. As the Shockers mounted their late rally, they hit seven consecutive three-point shots including a pair by Baker and guard Fred VanFleet in the final minute. The Shockers, who made only two perimeter shots in Thursday's win against No. 8 Pittsburgh, hit 14 total three-pointers, and made 50 percent of their total shots. For Wichita State, this could be a programming-defining win against the very program head coach Gregg Marshall has chosen as his model for mid-major success. Gonzaga has made 15 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, morphing over the last decade and a half from a charming underdog to a legitimate national power. Wichita State has made the tournament in consecutive years, but had made only one prior tournament since 1988. "It takes years of excellence to become Gonzaga," Marshall said Friday. "That's what we're trying to put forth." Minutes the final buzzer, Marshall scooped up his teenage daughter and spun her around in the middle of a raucous Shockers celebration. Players danced, puffed out their jerseys. "We're going to LA, baby," Marshall yelled. Gonzaga is going home stunned. BEST NCAA TOURNAMENT CINDERELLA TEAMS OF ALL-TIME Story Highlights
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Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2013/03/23/wichita-state-pulls-off-ultimate-shocker-knocking-off-no1-gonzaga/2014323/