ST. LOUIS - Cleanthony Early scored 20 points with 3 three-pointers and a pair of dunks, and No. 2 Wichita State improved to 33-0 with little resistance in a 67-42 rout of Missouri State in the Missouri Valley Conference semifinals Saturday.
Tekele Cotton also made 3 three-pointers for the top-seeded Shockers (33-0), who matched the start by Larry Bird and Indiana State in 1979 before they lost to Michigan State and Magic Johnson in the NCAA title game. Wichita State will be heavily favored against Indiana State or Southern Illinois to make it 34 in a row, which would match the NCAA-record start by UNLV in 1990-91.
The Shockers, who last won the conference tourney in 1987, took control with a 17-0 run in the first half and topped it with 24 consecutive points in the second, scoring at will while Missouri State endured droughts totaling more than 15 minutes.
Missouri State (21-11) gave Wichita State its closest call in the regular season, losing by three in overtime at home in January after squandering a 19-point lead. The Bears got away with 33 percent shooting in the quarterfinals against Illinois State but were blown out shooting 31 percent against the Shockers.
“I can’t remember which one was our best game, but if you think so, then OK,” point guard Fred VanVleet said after the second-ranked Shockers encountered little resistance.
Coach Gregg Marshall said he’s got a “fun team to watch, a fun team to coach, a fun team to be around.” He scoffed at naysayers who might criticize strength of schedule.
“Who can find fault with 33-0? No, I take that back, I know people find fault with 33-0. I don’t. I enjoy it,” Marshall said. “I’ve enjoyed it the whole year.”
In the other Missouri Valley semifinal, Khristian Smith tipped in a missed Justin Gant jumper with 14 seconds remaining to give No. 2 seed Indiana State a 62-59 victory over sixth-seeded Southern Illinois.
BIG SOUTH Coastal Carolina rolling
CONWAY, S.C. - Josh Cameron scored 17 points and made critical plays late to lead Coastal Carolina over VMI 66-62 on Saturday and into the Big South conference championship game.
The Chanticleers (20-12), the No. 1 South Division seed, will play No. 4 South seed Winthrop in Sunday’s championship game, CCU’s first title-game appearance since 2011. VMI was the No. 2 North seed.
D.J. Covington had 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead VMI (19-12).
In another Big South game, Keon Johnson scored the last five points as fourth-seeded Winthrop continued its giant-killer run through the tournament, knocking off No. 2 seed UNC Asheville.
WEST COAST San Francisco hangs on
LAS VEGAS - Avry Holmes scored 19 points as third-seeded San Francisco held on to beat No. 6 seed San Diego 69-60.
San Francisco (21-10) advances to a Monday semifinal.
Holmes hit 3 three-pointers and went 8 of 9 from the free throw line. Tim Derksen added 15 points and Cole Dickerson chipped in 14 for the Dons.
Dennis Kramer led San Diego (16-16) with 19 points and Johnny Dee finished with 13 after shooting 3 of 12 from three-point range.
In another West Coast Conference Tournament game, Kyle Collinsworth had career-highs of 23 points and 16 rebounds, helping No. 2 seeded BYU knock off 10th-seeded Loyola Marymount 85-74.
HORIZON LEAGUE Darling leads Wright St.
ASHWAUBENON, Wisc. - Cole Darling scored 21 points and Miles Dixon added 17 as Wright State beat Cleveland State 68-63 in a Horizon League tournament semifinal.
AJ Pacher scored 11 and the Raiders (20-13) out shot the Vikings (21-11) 55 percent to 40 percent.
No. 3 seeded Wright State opened with a 7-1 run, but No. 2 seeded Cleveland State rallied and led 14-9 on a jumper by Charlie Lee. Wright State ripped a 9-2 run capped by a jumper by Pacher and led 37-31 at halftime.
The teams traded baskets in the second half until Sebastian Douglas put the Vikings ahead 50-49 with a layup. Wright State got back on top with a 7-2 run, then led 67-60 on free throws by Darling with 19 seconds to play.
Sports, Pages 27 on 03/09/2014