Bear scare: Shockers win over Missouri State

It took overtime, but the Shockers stay undefeated 17-0 after beating Missouri State 72-69 in Springfield, Mo.

The Shockers started the game with a lead of 8-2 in the beginning of the first half before Missouri State showed up. The Bears then went on a 15-2 run to take the lead 25-15 with 5:27 left in the first half.  Then Missouri State went on another run to make the lead 14 at halftime with the score 24-42.

Before the second half started Gregg Marshall said, “We have to break this half up into segments. Five 4:00 segments, and we must win each segment.”

The Shockers answered Gregg Marshall’s call as they came out of the locker room with a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 11 with 16:38 left in the second half.

Missouri State did not go away. They then went on an 8-0 run to then make the lead 19, the highest of the night, with 11:30 to go in the second half.

Wichita State then answered with a 16-4 run of their own run to make the score 58-53 with 6:24 left in the second half.

The margin remained 5 until there was 1:40 left in the second half and Darius Carter made a layup to put the lead at 3 points.

Then Fred VanVleet went 3-5 on free throws in the final two minutes of the game. He missed one free throw, tying the score as the buzzer sounded.

That meant overtime, where the Shockers dominated on a 5-2 run to make the lead 69-66.

Then Missouri State’s point guard Marcus Marshall made a jumper to cut the lead to 69-68 Shockers.

With key free throws from Fred VanVleet, the Shockers sealed the deal at 72-69.

As Missouri State inbounded, sophomore Ron Baker flew across the court to knock the ball out of bounds with .8 seconds left in overtime.

Missouri State then inbounded the ball. Cleathony Early stole it and immediately shot the ball and the Shockers walked out of JQH arena with a 72-69 win.

The Shockers are next in action 7 p.m. on Tuesday Jan. 14 to face off against the Bradley Braves in Koch Arena.