TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Cleanthony Early scored 26 points to lead undefeated No. 9 Wichita State to a 72-67 victory over Alabama.
Fred VanVleet and Tekele Cotton both scored 11 for the Shockers (11-0), who are three win short of the school record for longest winning streak set in the 1953-1954 season.
Early also had five rebounds in the game and hit all of his 11 shots from the free-throw line. Free throws were in fact a major component of the Shockers' win. They went 25-for-27 from the line and appropriately sealed the win on a pair of shots by VanVleet with 11 seconds to play.
Trevor Releford led Alabama (5-5) with 22 points. Rodney Cooper scored 14.
Alabama took a 32-31 lead in the final minute of the first half on Cooper's 3-point shot, but Wichita State regained the lead at the break on Cotton's two successful free throws.
