WICHITA, Kan – Missouri State ended the first half on a 17-6 run and leads Wichita State, 35-24, at the intermission here in a battle of the only two remaining teams unbeaten in Missouri Valley Conference play.

 

Sparking the run for the Bears was junior Caleb Patterson who scored MSU's last seven points during the run, including the team's sixth and final three-pointer of the half.  Kyle Weems also has nine points for MSU.

 

The contest started out as a three-point competition with Weems and Nafis Ricks accounting for three treys in the opening four minutes for MSU, while WSU scored its first six points on long-range bombs.

The lead see-sawed back and forth until Weems gave the Bears the lead for good on a traditional three-point play at the 10:02 mark.

 

From there, Cuonzo Martin's squad built its lead to as many as 13, while the Shockers accounted for just three field goals in the final 10 minutes of the half.

 

The Bears shot .467 (14-for-30) from the field in the first half, including 6-of-10 (.600) from beyond the arc. Wichita State out-rebounded the Bears by a 19-16 margin and was held to just .308 (8-of-26) from the field.

 

MSU, which came into the game ranked No. 2 in the nation in fewest turnovers per game, has 6 mishaps in the first half.