Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Wichita State (14-2, 3-1) shook off Missouri State's 29-8 second-half run to hand the Bears their first home loss of the season, holding onto a 65-62 victory on Wednesday night at JQH Arena. 

Missouri State's Jermaine Mallett and Kyle Weems combined for 22 second-half points to lead the Bears (12-3, 2-2) back from a 25-point deficit, but it wasn't enough to overcome four double-digit efforts by the visitors from Wichita.

The Shockers buckled down when it mattered, knocking down clutch free throws with 10 seconds to play and getting the big stop when needed. Senior point guard Clevin Hannah led the Shockers with 15 points while junior guard Graham Hatch was one rebound shy of a double-double for the second game in a row with 12 points and nine rebounds. Junior JT Durley and sophomore Toure' Murry each added 13 points. 

Mallett finished with 21 points to lead all scorers while Weems ended his night with 16 points.

Despite a chilly 2-for-10 offensive start, the Shockers hit their next three shots to take the early 10-4 lead just over six minutes in. A defensive stand that allowed Missouri State just one bucket in the team's first seven attempts gave junior forwards JT Durley and Gabe Blair time to warm up. The pair collected eight of the Shocks' first 10 points during the opening stretch.

In the meantime, Hannah's shot also heated up. The senior drained a three and followed that with a floater through the lane to push the Shocks to a 15-8 advantage under the 10-minute mark.

Averaging more than 72 points per game heading into Wednesday night, the Bears were stifled by a Shocker defensive crew that refused to give up the easy shot and swiped seven steals in the first half alone. A Durley three capped a 10-0 run, giving the Shockers the commanding 25-8 lead before the Bears could record their fourth field goal of the evening.

When shots began falling for the Bears, they fell even faster for the Shockers. An 8-4 MSU run sparked the home crowd momentarily before back-to-back threes for Hannah and junior guard Graham Hatch brought back the subdued cheers as the Shocks carried a 37-18 lead into the break.

The Shockers picked up where they left off to start the second half. A 6-0 WSU run prompted a timeout from head coach Cuonzo Martin not even two minutes into the final half. This time the Bears answered with an 8-2 run of their own, but the Shockers had opened a 20-point spread that the home team was forced to answer to.

Answer they did. Tied with the Shockers for the second-place spot in the Valley standings before Wednesday's match-up, the Bears turned up the intensity. Highlighted by an Adam Leonard three, the Bears cut a 25-point lead to a 51-47 deficit with less than eight-minutes remaining.    

What once was a red hot offense struggled making just 2-of-9 shots for the middle stretch of the second half as the Bears cut the lead to two, 51-49 at the six-minute mark. Hannah's three ball pushed the Shocker lead back to five to snap a scoring drought lasting more than five minutes. Making a case for the Shockers' toughness, Hatch knocked down another to cushion the visitors' lead once again, 62-53.

With the crowd of 7,135 on its feet, MSU found more answers. Weems, who tallied 12 second-half points after the Shocks held him to four in the first, drilled his first three of the game to cut into the gap, 63-57. Mallett stuck another dagger when his three attempt found the bottom of the net with 48 seconds left on the clock to bring the Bears within two, 63-61.

A Nafis Ricks free throw cut the lead to one, capping another 8-0 Bears' scoring rally, with ten seconds to play. With ice in his veins, Hatch stepped up and nailed both free throw attempts, giving the Shockers the 65-62 advantage that they would not surrender.

The Shockers return home for a Saturday afternoon match-up against Valley rival Creighton. Tip-off is set for 1:05 pm.