WICHITA, Kan.- Four Shocker starters scored in double figures as Wichita State improved to 12-0 on the season after a 77-66 victory over North Carolina Central on Sunday night inside Charles Koch Arena.

Darius Carter scored a career high 19 points, while Cleanthony Early recorded his first double-double of season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Ron Baker had 15 points, and Fred Van Vleet tallied 14 points, dished out eight assists, and grabbed six rebounds in the win. The Eagles were led by Jeremy Ingram, who finished with 37 points.

Cleanthony Early hit a three-pointer 36 seconds into the game to open the scoring for Wichita State. Seven minutes later, an alley-oop from Fred VanVleet to Early put the score at 14-9 Shockers.

A two-point jumper from Ron Baker and a three-pointer on next possession from the Scott City, Kan. native gave Wichita State a 24-19 advantage. Baker's shot from long distance ignited a 15-0 run for the Shockers that was capped on a Darius Carter fast break layup off a feed from VanVleet to put Wichita State up 36-19 with 2:25 remaining in the half.

The Shockers closed out the final 6:53 of the first half with a 19-5 run. Early and Carter scored 11 points each with Early grabbing six rebounds. VanVleet scored seven points and handed out six assists. Wichita State shot 14-for-31 (.452) in the first 20 minutes and outrebounded the Eagles 23-11.

North Carolina Central opened the second half with six straight points to cut the Shocker lead to 40-30. Two free throws from Carter gave Wichita State its first points of the half and put them up 12, 42-30 with 18:29 left in the game.

After the Eagles cut the Shocker lead to 10 again, Ron Baker answered for the Shockers with a three-pointer from the corner that stretched the Wichita State lead to 54-41 at the 9:46 mark.

A VanVleet three-point play gave the Shockers a 60-46, but North Carolina Central again cut the lead, this time to eight, 53-61. A three-pointer from the corner by Early and a steal by Baker who passed it off to VanVleet in fast break for a layup put Wichita State up 66-53 and forced an Eagle timeout with 4:54 remaining in the game.

With his team's lead at seven Baker nailed another corner three with 1:43 remaining in the game and Early added a dunk off a steal by Baker to seal the win for the Shockers.

Wichita State is next in action on Dec. 29 when it host Davidson at 2 p.m. inside Charles Koch Arena.

-WICHITA STATE-