WICHITA, Kan. - No. 24 Wichita State (9-0) defeated Northern Colorado (1-6), 80-54, behind a game-high 16 points from junior Cleanthony Early to tie the best start in school history at 9-0.

The Shockers also had three more players in double figures with senior Demetric Williams' 12 points, junior Nick Wiggins' 14 points, and senior Malcolm Armstead's 11. Junior Chadrack Lufile grabbed 10 rebounds to lead WSU.

Wichita State opened the game with a 10-2 run capped off by a two-handed slam by senior Carl Hall, forcing the Bears into an early timeout. Wichita State expanded the lead to 13 at the 11-minute mark of the first half after a highlight dunk from junior Cleanthony Early. Early led WSU in the first half with 12 points as the Shockers saw their lead extend to 38-19 after 20 minutes.

Despite three early turnovers to start the second half, the Shockers increased the lead to 47-27 after a Tekele Cotton running jumper.  A Malcolm Armstead jumper capped a 9-2 Shocker run and gave the Shockers their largest lead of the game at 75-46.

WSU out-shot the Bears, 55.6 percent to 42.3 percent from the field, and also made 12-of-24 from beyond the arc.

Wichita State also started the 2004-05 and 2006-07 seasons at 9-0 before the first loss, while the latter start helped the Shockers reach No. 8 in the Associated Press Top 25.

The Shockers are back in action on Thurs., Dec. 13 at Thompson-Boling Arena to take on the University of Tennessee. Tip is set for 6 p.m., Central, while the game will be televised on Fox Midwest and Fox South.