The  Davidson Wildcats brought a 4-8 record into Charles Koch Arena Sunday afternoon. Davidson was facing their second top 25 team in two weeks.

The Shockers came into the game 12-0 and ranked No. 10 in the country as they looked to improve on the best start in school history and move to 13-0.

Senior Cleanthony Early lead all scorers with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Ron Baker added 15 points, junior Darius Carter chipped in 13 points. Junior Tekele Cotton scored 10 points, and had four blocks. The Shockers won 81 to 70.

Davidson scored the game’s first points on a jumper from the corner for a 2-0 lead. The Shockers would come right back as sophomore Fred Van Vleet drove down the middle of the lane and was fouled on the layup, tying the score 2-2.

The Shockers and Wildcats traded baskets most of the first half, with Davidson answering back every time the Shockers scored a basket. Davidson would lead the Shockers 5-4 early in the game.        

Leading by five straight points by Early, the Shockers outscored the Wildcats on a 7-0 run to push the Shockers lead to 11-5. Davidson would make a three pointer at the 11:09 mark to make the score 14-13 Davidson.

In a game where there were three ties and nine lead changes, the Shockers built the lead to as much as seven points with 3:58 left in the first half to make the score 29-22 Shockers.

Davidson rallied back to tie the game at 32-32 with .52 seconds left in the first half. As time expired, Darius Carter got a put back on a missed Van Vleet three point shot. The Shockers lead 36-32 at halftime.

In the second half, Davidson cut the Shockers’ lead to one point at 45-44 with 15:57 left in the second half. With 8:18 left in the game, the Shockers got an Early layup.          

The Wildcats were relentless and stormed back with 4:06 left in the second half, cutting the Shockers’ lead 68-64. The Shockers were up as much as 11 points in the second half with 1:43 left.           

With .57 seconds left in regulation, Davidson kept shooting and hit a three pointer, cutting the Shocker lead to 77-70.

“The difference in this game was we were able to drive to the basket more,” head coach Gregg Marshall said.

Clutch free throws by the Shockers in the final minute and a Cotton block at the rim with .17 secured a Shocker victory, and WSU improved to 13-0.

“It was a tough ballgame. These guys were not going to quit.” Marshall said. “This had a conference game feel to it. You just had to make play after play these guys are not going to let you beat them.”

The Shockers will start Missouri Valley Conference play at Southern Illinois on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 7:05 p.m.