After jumping out to a 15-4 lead in the first six minutes of the game and playing within one point of the lead at the half, Missouri State was unable to keep pace with visiting Wichita State here Wednesday, succumbing to a barrage of second-half 3-pointers by the Shockers in a 78-62 setback.
The Bears (6-11, 2-3 MVC) were led by Dequon Miller who had 17 points, while Camyn Boone and Ryan Kreklow scored 10 points apiece.
Wichita State (11-5, 5-0) got 16 points off the bench from Markis McDuffie, while Conner Frankamp and Ron Baker tallied 14 apiece for the Shockers who knocked down seven 3-pointers in the second half.
Missouri State, which entered the game with a two-game MVC win streak, knocked down three 3-pointers in the first six minutes of the game, including two by Miller, to build an early, double-figure advantage. WSU rallied within six point twice from there, but a driving baseline dunk by Obediah Church extended the home side’s advantage to 22-13 with seven minutes left in the opening half.
The Shockers bounced off the canvas to score the game’s next seven points and later used an 8-0 outburst before the intermission to lead 33-30. MSU answered with a triple by Kreklow with 72 seconds left in the half to tie the game, but a bucket by Rashard Kelly in the final 30 seconds of the opening stanza gave the visitors a narrow 37-36 lead at the break.
Wichita State, quickly solved its early shooting woes, turning a 2-for-14 first-half effort from bonus distance into solid gold in the second half. Zach Brown’s 3-pointer before the first media timeout of the second period help accentuate an 11-0 run by the Shockers to start the final period.
By the time, Miller scored Missouri State’s first field goal of the second period at the 11:48 mark, WSU had built a 53-41 lead. From there, WSU knocked down four 3-pointers over the next four minutes and led by as many as 23 late.
Missouri State rallied to trim the final deficit to 16, but it was Wichita State’s sharp shooting, offensive rebounding and bullish performance in the paint that put the contest out of reach. Gregg Marshall’s club finished with 46 points in the paint, tallied 17 offensive rebounds and converted 7-of-14 from long range in the second half alone.
For the game, the Bears finished 15-for-46 (.326) from the field, 6-of-18 (.333) downtown and 26-of-41 (.634) at the line. MSU was out-rebounded by a 49-29 margin, but committed just 10 turnovers, blocked 4 shots and registered 7 steals. Church led the Bears with 6 rebounds, while Camyn Boone registered 3 assists. Chris Kendrix played 17 minutes just four days after missing the Loyola game with back spasms.
WSU was 32-for-67 (.478) from the field, 9-of-28 (.321) from 3-point range, and 5-of-13 (.385) at the line with 11 turnovers and 9 steals. McDuffie led all players with 9 rebound, while Frankamp accounted for four of WSU’s 3-pointers.
The Bears will take to the road for their next two Valley games, including a 7 p.m. tip in Peoria on Saturday against Bradley (3-15, 1-4).
MSU returns to JQH Arena on Jan. 24 at 3 p.m. to challenge former head coach Barry Hinson and the Southern Illinois Salukis.
