Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall, the reigning national coach of the year, got all he wanted — and then some — against Hawaii on Tuesday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Even in an 80-79 overtime victory for the No. 11 Shockers, which advanced them to the championship game of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.

"I don’t want to play them again," Marshall said of UH. "I don’t even want to play them in Koch Arena." He referred to the Shockers’ home in Wichita, Kan., where WSU went unbeaten last season en route to a 35-1 record.

UH (9-4) was bitterly disappointed but unbowed by the result, which swung wildly in the game’s final moments and left the crowd of about 5,500 (including a few hundred Shocker fans) woozy by the time of its shocking conclusion.

Forward Mike Thomas gave UH the lead for the last time, 79-78, with 17.7 seconds left in the extra period when point guard Roderick Bobbitt found him on an inbounds pass right underneath the basket for a layup.

Coming out of a timeout, WSU’s heralded point guard Fred VanVleet was errant on a 3-pointer from the left wing. But the ball bounced high to the far side, where forward Rashard Kelly was waiting. Kelly gathered the ball, pivoted and put the winning basket off the glass from close range with 3.4 seconds to go.

UH forward Aaron Valdes was nearly one of the game’s heroes, hitting big baskets late in regulation as part of his 17-point night. But he pointed the finger at himself for the late lapse. He was right behind Kelly on the decisive play.

"I was stuck on (guard Ron) Baker and I saw the (VanVleet) shot go up," Valdes said. "I just tried to go for it, but I thought one of us had the rebound so I kind of stopped and didn’t jump. (Kelly) was right in front of me and got the rebound. So, I kind of put that on myself because I know I should have got that rebound."

Kelly said: "I just kept playing … I was just making a regular play I make as an offensive rebounder with the putback."

"It was either do or die at that point."

After Kelly’s basket, UH had a final chance. It was out of timeouts, so Bobbitt drove upcourt quickly to the top of the WSU key. He had just enough time to dump it off to Thomas, who released a running 16-footer before the horn. However, the lefty attempt caromed off the back iron.

Had UH held on, it would have been tied for the fourth-biggest upset in UH history (In terms of opponent ranking). It also would have kept alive UH’s hopes for its first Diamond Head Classic title in the event’s six years.

The Rainbow Warriors will look to regroup against Colorado (7-4) of the Pac-12 in the Diamond Head third-place game at 1:30 p.m. on Christmas Day. Wichita State (10-1) faces George Washington (8-3) at 3:30 for the title.

UH coach Benjy Taylor said the loss would "sting for a long, long time" but also felt his team will be ready for the Buffaloes.

"We lost to a program that, everyone associated with our program, we emulate," Taylor said. "We want to be like them. We want to win championships like them. We want to carry ourselves, conduct ourselves, and win games like them. And we had a chance to get them tonight.

"What we’ve gone through as a team, this loss is a small drop in the bucket," he said. "We’ll be fine on Thursday."

There were 11 ties and 22 lead changes. UH had chances to win it in regulation, as well. Valdes and VanVleet swapped inside baskets and the lead with about a minute left. Then Valdes hit an all-net 3 from the wing, bringing the raucous crowd to its feet.

UH’s options were reduced late among an eight-man rotation. Freshman guard Isaac Fleming scored a season-high 17 points but fouled out reaching in on Baker outside the arc with 28 seconds to go in regulation. Baker tied it at 70 with the two free throws, then after a UH timeout, got a piece of Negus Webster-Chan’s potential winning 3-pointer on a drive-and-kick from Bobbitt. Baker (17 points, 5-for-19 shooting) nearly put it in from halfcourt to end it right there.

Fleming had been electric early, scoring 14 in the first half while hitting his first five shots.

"I felt like I let my team down," Fleming said. "It’s just, that late in the game, I’m not going to question the ref’s call, but I should have just stayed in front of him and not been greedy."

Forward Stefan Jankovic, playing his second game in a UH uniform, hit a 3-pointer for UH’s first lead in overtime among his 12 points. But he fouled out on a questionable call going for a block in the final minute of OT.

Bobbitt tied his UH high of 10 assists.

Fleming hit a corner 3 on a dish from Bobbitt to cut WSU’s lead to 34-33 at the half. UH kept it going early after the break, going on a 12-2 run bridging the halves with a driving dunk by Garrett Nevels and two straight 3s by Webster-Chan (nine points, nine rebounds). UH soon led 49-42, its largest advantage.

The seven-point lead went quickly, as the Shockers forced three straight turnovers and rattled off nine straight points to reclaim the lead, 51-49, with 12:30 to play. They battled closely the rest of the way.

Valdes was able to put the defeat in perspective just minutes afterward.

"I feel like we kind of let it get away, but at the same time, we made a statement in a way, not to take us lightly," Valdes said. "I mean, we beat Nebraska, we beat Pittsburgh, we had Wichita on the ropes. We just gotta close it out."

George Washington 53, Colorado 50

Kevin Larsen blocked Askia Booker’s game-tying 3-point attempt with two seconds left and the Colonials (8-3) topped the Buffloes (7-4) to reach the final.

Larsen switched onto Booker and timed his leap perfectly, and teammate Joe McDonald corralled the loose ball. It was fitting a defensive play was the decider as the teams struggled to score throughout, combining to shoot 2-for-20 on 3s.

"We hung in there, and Joe McDonald (game-high 14 points) really battled," GW coach Mike Lonergan said. "I thought he was a key for our win."

OHIO 99, DEPAUL 78

The Bobcats (4-5) sizzled with 59.4 percent shooting en route to setting the Diamond Head Classic scoring record in their win over the Blue Demons.

Ohio got 31 points from Javarez Willis on 11-for-18 shooting, including 7-for-14 on 3-pointers.

"We’re bipolar, I guess," Ohio coach Saul Phillips said. "I tried to emphasize to the guys that things aren’t as bad as they felt (Monday) night. It’s heartening to see them turn around and perform how they did."

NEBRASKA 50, LOYOLA MARYMOUNT 42, OT

Terran Petteway scored 17 points and Shavon Shields added 13 to carry the Cornhuskers (7-4) past the Lions (3-8).

Nebraska will play Oho for fifth place on Thursday. Loyola Marymount will meet DePaul for seventh place.

NO. 11 WICHITA ST 80, HAWAII 79 OT