WICHITA, KAN. -- J.T. Durley posted eight of his team-leading 16 points in overtime to lead Wichita State to a 76-70 win against Evansville Wednesday at Charles Koch Arena.
The Missouri Valley Conference win in front of a crowd of 10,410 evened the season series between the two teams as Wichita State improved to 16-0 at home.
Evansville freshman guard Ned Cox led all players with 23 points and his free throws with .3 seconds left in regulation forced overtime.
Shocker senior guard Clevin Hannah was whistled for a foul as Cox attempted a three-point shot just before time expired in the second half and Evansville trailing, 58-56. Cox missed his first free throw, but made the next two to tie the game, 58-58, and extend play into a five-minute overtime period.
Wichita State, which entered the game in second place in the Valley standings, improved to 22-6 overall and 11-5 in league play.
Shockers Graham Hatch, Garrett Stutz and Hannah also scored in double digits. Durley added a game-high nine rebounds.
The last place Evansville Purple Aces fell to 7-19 overall and 1-15 in league play.
Wichita State jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the game's first three minutes, gaining six points on two three-pointers from junior guard Hatch.
Evansville fought back to within one point, 9-8, with about 14 minutes left before the Shockers answered with a 6-2 run.
The Purple Aces eventually tied the game, 20-20, with 6:34 left in the first half on two free throws from Kavon Lacey.
The second block of the night from sophomore guard David Kyles ignited the crowd and led to a jumper from sophomore forward Mason Felter that regained the Shockers' lead.
A steal and layup from Evansville's Cox at the buzzer cut the Shockers' margin, but Wichita State took a 26-24 lead into halftime, paced by eight points from sophomore center Stutz.
The Purple Aces grabbed their first lead of the game on a layup from James Haarsma less than three minutes into the second half, 31-29. They followed with a 9-5 run to take a 40-34 lead -- their largest of the game -- as the Shockers struggled shooting early in the half.
A three-pointer from Hatch with 7:38 left in the game evened the score, 44-44.
The Shockers extended to an eight-point lead with 2:18 remaining, but missed free-throws from Wichita State down the stretch allowed Evansville to stay close. Wichita State shot 62.9 percent from the free-throw line in the game overall, and 45.5 percent in the second half.
Wichita State has now defeated Evansville nine years in a row in Wichita.
The Shockers next travel to Utah State for a 10:59 p.m. game Feb. 20 for the annual BracketBusters non-conference match-up on ESPN2. Wichita State then plays at Bradley Feb. 24 before returning home to play Southern Illinois at noon Feb. 27 at Charles Koch Arena.
- Wichita State -
