SPRINGFIELD, Mo.--A career-high night for sophomore Reggie Chamberlain couldn't hold off a season-best performance by the Missouri State offense, as the Shockers come up short, 68-55.  

Despite WSU holding the field-goal percentage edge, 49 percent to the MSU's 45 percent, it was still Missouri State's best shooting performance of the season. Chris Cooks' double-double led the way for the Bears. The senior put up 23 points and 11 rebounds Wednesday night. Fellow senior Wade Knapp also had an effective night with 16 points and eight rebounds.

Chamberlain and freshman Toure' Murry teamed up to lead the Shocker offense, with 13 points apiece. Chamberlain notched a career-high 13 points fueled by a 4-of-6 three-point effort. Murry's 13 points came with four rebounds.

A dunk from Knapp highlighted an 11-2 Missouri State run to start the game before Chamberlain drained a pair of threes to stop the early scoring rally.

Head Coach Gregg Marshall started the same lineup as he had at Drake, but the quick offensive start against the Bulldogs didn't happen against the Bears. MSU moving efficiently in transition and six early WSU turnovers saw to that. When the Shockers did have the opportunity to score, however, they did. Nearly midway through the first half, the Shockers shot 72 percent from the floor to the Bears' 54 percent.

Cooks' steal resulted in a fast-break lay up for Justin Fuehrmeyer to open the gap that Wichita State had worked diligently to close, 22-14. Although the Shockers continued to shoot a high percentage, hitting 67 percent, the 8-0 turnover deficit with less than seven minutes in the half enabled the Bears to build on their lead.

A pair of free throws from Knapp stretched the lead, 26-14. Back-to-back buckets from Murry again cut the lead to single-digits. Unfortunately for the Shockers, Knapp played a nearly unstoppable first half. With less than four minutes until the break, Knapp turned an offensive rebound into his third dunk of the game and put his team ahead, 30-18.

Freshman Garrett Stutz knocked down the rare three for the center in response before Missouri State guard Kyle Weems did the same. The Bears came in to the game hitting 29 percent from the three-point line. Though they faired no better on Wednesday night, the Bears hit them when they needed them. Will Creekmore added their fourth of the half to send the team's into halftime with MSU's largest lead of the evening, 37-23.

Sparking the second-half offense, Chamberlain hit his third three of the night to shrink the Bears' lead, 43-29. Not thirty seconds later, Cooks answered from behind the arc on his end. Unfazed, David Kyles fired off a long three and Aaron Ellis hit a 15-footer to creep the Shockers closer, 48-34.

WSU's comeback effort took a hit when sophomore J.T. Durley took a seat beside freshman Garrett Stutz, both with four fouls. Stutz led the Shockers in the first half with seven points, but wouldn't add to it in the second half as he fouled out with nearly eight minutes to play.

Continuing their shooting performance, the Bears were hitting 47 percent at the five-minute mark. Still, the Shockers out shot their opponent with a 52 percent accuracy in that time span. Holding the Shocks back was an unusual rebounding deficit. WSU trailed on the boards, 29-19 with five minutes to play. They finished the night trailing, 31-24, on the boards.

Still fighting, Murry pulled up for a three to bring his team closer to the Bears' than they had been for the entirety of the second half, 64-53. The Shockers led the Bears from the three-point line, knocking down 53 percent versus the Bears' 29 percent. The fight wouldn't be enough as the Shocks fell to the Bears, 68-55.

The Shockers are next in action when they play host to the Bluejays of Creighton on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 3:05 p.m.

-Wichita State-