Shockers route Salukis

Wichita State’s men’s basketball team (24-3, 14-1 MVC) traveled to Carbondale, Ill., Tuesday and put down the Southern Illinois Salukis (10-18, 3-12 MVC) early.

From the opening tip, the Shockers controlled game. Ron Baker hit a jumper just 12 seconds into the game.

By the first official timeout at the 15:57 mark, the Shockers led 13-2 and were 6-of-6 from the field. The Salukis, however, were 1-of-5 with three turnovers.

The Shockers kept the pedal down, leading 41-28 at the half.

Redshirt freshman Shaq Morris came alive in the game, scoring 11 points in the second half. Morris was too much for SIU to handle.

“He was a revelation tonight,” said Bruce Heartl, play-by-play commentator for the game.

Morris finished the game with 17 points and seven rebounds.

The Shockers defeated the Salukis 84-62.

Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet had 13 points apiece and Tekele Cotton added 10. Baker and Morris had a team-high seven rebounds each while Cotton led the team in assists with five.

VanVleet ended with four assists. He needs four more to tie the all-time school record for career assists as a Shocker.

The Shockers play Evansville next at 3 p.m. Sunday at Charles Koch Arena.