WICHITA, Kan. -- A pair of free throws by Kyle Weems with 4:30 left in the game gave Missouri State a 56-53 lead here in Missouri Valley Conference play on Sunday before the Shockers reeled off nine straight points in a 66-64 loss.

The Bears led by as many as five in the second half, but the Shockers rallied despite making just two field goals in the final 4:14.  WSU was 11-for-13 at the free throw line in the final four minutes.

Weems had 19 points for the Bears (17-9, 7-8 MVC), a game-high, while Nafis Ricks added 11, and Jermaine Mallett scored 10.

Toure Murry and Clevin Hannah each scored 15 for WSU (21-6, 10-5).

Missouri State finished with a 52-percent shooting clip (26-for-50), but was just 7-for-14 at the free throw line. The Bears were outrebounded 33-25.

Wichita State made a living at the charity stripe, going 29-for-39 at the free throw line (.744) and made just 16 field goals in 43 attempts (.372).  '

In the first half, the Bears built a 9-4 advantage early on a short jumper by Nafis Ricks who then stole the inbound pass for an easy layup at the 15:27 mark.

After Caleb Patterson broke an 11-11 tie with a layup with 11:38 to go, Wichita State went on a 9-0 to pull ahead 20-13 with just under nine minutes remaining in the half.

The Bears fought back within one, as they notched six straight points, including a dunk by Jermaine Mallett off a steal by Keith Pickens. The Shockers, however, answered again and built a 32-24 lead with just 2:10 to go in the period.

Kyle Weems then stepped up big for Missouri State, getting a short jumper to fall and nailing a three-pointer before Will Creekmore ended the half with a short hook to make it a 32-31 game.

The Bears will travel to Illinois State on Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. in a FOX Sports Midwest telecast on the Valley TV Network.