COL BKB: Wichita St. 62 Missouri St. 52

• Tweet

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Cleanthony Early helped No. 21 Wichita State recover from a long scoring drought Wednesday and the Shockers rallied past Missouri State 62-52.

Early scored 17 points as part of an effort that pushed Wichita State into the lead in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Wichita State did not score for the final 3:27 of the first half and the first 4:11 of the second period. During that stretch the Bears produced 17 points and took an eight-point lead.

The Shockers, however, held Missouri State to 32 percent shooting and advanced to 18-2 for the season. Wichita State is 7-1 in conference play and took over first place by itself when No. 12 Creighton lost to Drake on Wednesday.

Wichita State defeated Creighton in their first meeting of the season last week. Carl Hall added 15 points for the Shockers.

Missouri State (5-15, 3-5) was led by 21 points from Gavin Thurman.