|  Box Score (PDF) |  Postgame Press Conference |  Highlights

WICHITA, Kan. – Behind a big defensive performance and a scoring outburst by Rangie Bessard, the Shockers defeated the Prairie View A&M Panthers, 64-36 on the first day of the Papa John's Shocker Winter Classic at Charles Koch Arena.

Wichita State shot the ball extremely well from beginning to end as the team shot 50 percent from the field while the defense held Prairie View A&M to only 25 percent. The

Shockers also had 16 assists on their 26 field goals while the Panthers only had four assists.

Bessard led the Shockers, scoring a Wichita State career-high 24 points and also grabbing a WSU career-high 10 rebounds. Both Marija Pacar and TaQuandra Mike also scored in double figures for the Shockers, adding 13 and 10 points, respectively.

The Panthers were led by Lamaria Cole with 14 points, while Larissa Scott also had a team-high eight rebounds.

After a three-pointer by Prairie View A&M, the Shockers scored nine straight points to take a 9-3 lead early in the first quarter.

The Panthers went on a run of their own, but a basket by Mike gave the Shockers the lead at the end of the first period, 13-9.

A strong 12 point second quarter by Bessard helped push the Shockers lead to 33-16 by the end of the quarter, holding the Panthers to just seven points.

Throughout the third quarter, both teams traded points, but eventually the Shockers pushed their lead to 21, 47-26.

The Shockers defense held strong in the fourth quarter, not allowing a bucket in the first seven minutes and pushed their lead to 28, giving the Shockers a 64-36 victory.

The Papa John's Shocker Winter Classic continues Saturday as the Prairie View A&M Panthers take on the North Dakota State Bison at 12:00 p.m. at Charles Koch Arena in the first matchup of the day.

Shortly after the first game, the North Carolina A&T State Aggies will take on the Wichita State Shockers at 3:00 p.m., in the last game of the Shocker Winter Classic.