DES MOINES, Iowa - Cleanthony Early scored 19 points, Ron Baker added 14 and fifth ranked Wichita State stayed perfect with a 78-61 victory over Drake on Saturday.
Nick Wiggins had 11 points for the visiting Shockers (21-0, 8-0 MVC). Wichita State outscored Drake 28-15 to open the second half, turning a relatively close game into a rout.
The Shockers have now won four consecutive games by at least 15 points after an overtime scare at Missouri State two weeks ago.
Aaron Hawley (Rogers) had 16 points to lead Drake (11-9, 2-6), which lost for the sixth time in seven games.
The Bulldogs had their moments against the Valley’s top team.
But they, like nearly everyone else in the league, couldn’t stop the Shockers from imposing their will.
Baker answered a Drake three-pointer with a three-point play through traffic with 15:45 left - and that kicked off two spurts that overwhelmed the Bulldogs.
Chadrack Lufile scored inside, and Tekele Cotton’s floater put the Shockers ahead 52-35 with just over 13 minutes left. Early then soared through the paint to dunk an errant shot, and Wiggins’ three-point play capped an 11-0 run that made it 65-44.
The Shockers out rebounded Drake 34-20 and held its leading scorer, Richard Carter, to just six points.
Sports, Pages 25 on 01/26/2014