Box Score WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State remains one of three unbeaten teams in the NCAA with a 72-50 win over the Bradley Braves Tuesday night in Charles Koch Arena.
VanVleet led the Shockers with 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting and added to his impressive assist numbers with three on the night. VanVleet also led the team with seven rebounds while Darius Carter added 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting and Derail Green shot a game-high eight points in the victory. Green's previous game-high in points was against Emporia State on Nov. 9.
The Shockers took an 11-4 lead in the early going, highlighted by a put back layup from VanVleet and an Early three in the opening minutes. The Braves (6-12, 1-4) responded with a 7-0 run to tie the ballgame, 11-11. Wichita State (18-0, 5-0) extended the lead once again with a 11-3 run, capped by a Baker three at the 7:14 mark of the first half to give the Shockers a 22-14 advantage.
VanVleet made a layup and a three shortly after to give Wichita State a 30-18 lead with 4:06 left in the half before Derail Green hit two-straight threes to extend the Shocker lead, 40-23, going into the locker room.
Wichita State shot 42 percent (11-for-26) from the field and 45 percent (5-for-11) from three-point range in the first 20 minutes, while holding Bradley to 36 percent (9-for-25) and 40 percent (2-for-5) from beyond the arc.
VanVleet led all scorers with 14 at the break on 4-of-6 shooting and led the Shockers in rebounds with five. Green added eight in the first half, while Baker chipped in seven.
Wichita State saw the free-throw line early in the second half, going 5-for-5 from the line in the first three minutes and adding to its 47-23 lead over the Braves. Bradley responded with two-straight layups to try and chip away at the lead but a ferocious dunk by Cotton at the 16:27 mark brought the crowd to its feet and gave the Shockers a 49-27 lead.
Darius Carter scored six of Wichita State's next 10 points to give the Shockers a 59-32 lead, forcing Bradley to call a timeout at the 10:44 mark. Bradley hit a three with 7:34 left on the clock but the Shockers responded with a Wiggins three and a VanVleet three shortly after to give Wichita State its largest lead of the night, 70-38.
The Braves went on a 12-2 run in the final minutes but it was not enough as the Shockers would go on to win, 72-50. The victory gives Wichita State its 11th straight win over Bradley, including eight-straight in Charles Koch Arena.
The Shockers host Indiana State Saturday, Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. inside Charles Koch Arena. The game will honor the 2014 Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame inductees and will be televised on ESPN/ESPN2.
-WICHITA STATE-
