WICHITA, Kan.- The Wichita State men's basketball team defeated Charleston Southern, 65-53, on Thursday night at Charles Koch Arena.

Cleanthony Early recorded his first double-double as a Shocker with 20 points and 10 rebounds. He shot 8-for-14 from the field and 3-for-4 from the free throw line.

Chadrack Lufile had a career high in points and rebounds with eight and twelve, respectively. Nick Wiggins added eleven points in the winning effort.

Saah Nimley led the Buccaneers with 21 points and seven rebounds.

Wichita State (10-1) forced turnovers on three straight possessions and started the game on a 9-1 run that was capped by a Demetric Williams three-point bucket at the 15:51 mark.

The Buccaneers (4-6) rattled off six straight points before an alley-oop from Tekele Cotton to Cleanthony Early, put the Shockers up 11-7.

A layup by Saah Nimley would give Charleston State their first lead of the game, 19-18, with 9:09 left in the half.

Down 26-20 with 5:26 remaining in the half, the Shockers when on a 7-2 run to cut the Charleston State lead to one going into halftime. Nick Wiggins scored the last four points of the half for the Shockers and had eight points on 3-for-8 shooting.

The Shockers started the second-half on an 8-0 run to take the lead, 35-28. Cleanthony Early scored all eight points during the run on two three-point plays and a dunk assisted by Malcolm Armstead.

Back-to-back jumpers by Tekele Cotton stretched the Wichita State lead to 43-33 with 12:56 remaining.

Wichita State never let their lead dip below nine to close out the game and get their tenth win of the season.

The Shockers are next in action on Saturday, December 22 at INTRUST Bank Arena against Southern Mississippi. Tip is set for 7 p.m.

-WICHITA STATE-