Missouri Valley Conference heavyweights Missouri State and Wichita State hooked up in a basketball shootout Sunday afternoon in Hammons Student Center with the Bears rolling past the Shockers 95-87 in MVC play to beat WSU for the first time in four years.
   Both teams blazed away above 50 percent from the field in both halves of the game and the dust settled with Wichita State at .540 (34/63) and the Bears at .532 (25/47) in field goal shooting for the contest. Missouri State made up the difference in baskets with a 34-20 rebound advantage and connected on 85 percent shooting from the foul line (34/40).
    Missouri State punched up its 14th straight home victory, the Bears’ longest home win streak in 17 seasons, and moved to within three of the HSC record of 17 wins in a row (1987-89). The Bears, with their fifth win this season over an NCAA tournament team from last season, climbed to 3-1 in Valley play and 12-3 overall as they ended a string of eight straight losses to the Shockers. WSU, the defending Valley champion and an NCAA Sweet 16 team in 2006, suffered its third league loss in four tries this season after a 14-4 league mark last year. Wichita State, which started its season 9-0 and got as high as eighth in the Associated Press poll, has now lost five of its last six and fell to 10-5 overall.
    The Bears took charge of the game early in the contest, hitting 8-of-11 three-pointers in the first half, but Wichita State’ hot shooting kept Missouri State from opening any daylight between the teams. The Bears enjoyed 15-point leads twice in the half with WSU closing to within 45-34 at the intermission.
    Missouri State muscled its lead to 19 within the first eight minutes of the second half and had a 76-57 bulge with 9:49 to play. With Matt Braeuer keeping WSU in it with his long-range accuracy, WSU whittled its deficit to eight at 80-72 with five minutes left, but the Bears kept the pressure on from the foul line and the Shockers did not get closer than seven.
    The Bears’ Blake Ahearn hit three treys and was 14-of-14 from the foul line to lead all scorers with 23 points. Tyler Chaney was 5-of-6 from long range, 7-of-8 overall from the field and scored 22 points while leading both teams with nine rebounds. The third of the scoring big three for the game for MSU was Deven Mitchell, 6-of-11 from the field and 7-of-9 from the line to score 19. Spencer Laurie handed out eight assists.
    Braeuer finished with 21 points for WSU and Ryan Martin and Karon Bradley scored 13 each.
    The Bears stay home to host Evansville in MVC action Tuesday night in Hammons. Tipoff is 8:05 p.m.
