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ST. LOUIS – Ron Baker scored 13 of his game-high 25 points over the final 5:34, Friday afternoon, helping No. -/23 Wichita State rally from seven points down to defeat Loyola, 66-58, in Missouri Valley Conference quarterfinal action.
 
In qualifying for its seventh-straight MVC semifinal, WSU (24-7) overcame a second-half deficit to win for the first time this year. In each of their 23 previous wins, the Shockers had been up at the break and led the for the final 20 minutes.

WSU meets fourth-seeded Northern Iowa in Saturday's first semifinal game, beginning at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network (available in Wichita on Cox (2260), DirectTV (221), DISH (158), FiOS (594), UVerse (1643)).
 
Baker's 25 matched his career-high, set twice previously. He finished 8-of-16 from the field, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.
 
Zach Brown and Fred VanVleet finished with 10 points each, and Shaquille Morris delivered a game-changing defensive effort with a career-best six blocks in 16 minutes of action.
 
Devon Turk paced Loyola with 16 points and five rebounds, and Earl Peterson and  Milton Doyle chipped in 10-each.
 
An uncharacteristic 17 turnovers by WSU and Loyola's six second-half treys conspired to put the Shockers in a 52-45 hole, after Peterson's layup with 5:49 to go.
 
Baker lifted the Shockers on his shoulders, draining treys on consecutive trips to make it a one-point game.
 
Ben Richardson answered with a Loyola three-pointer, and the Ramblers held a four-point lead with under 4:00 to go.
 
Markis McDuffie scored a clutch basket in the lane, and Morris blocked Doyle's drive to give the Shockers the ball down 55-53. Baker split a pair of free throws, and Morris and Baker each collected blocks to shut down Loyola's next two trips.
 
Baker followed his block with a three-pointer at 1:54 to push the Shockers in front for the first time since the 13:48-mark.
 
WSU went the rest of the way without a field goal but made progress at the line, hitting 9-of-12 to assume control.
 
After averaging nearly 10 steals over their previous five games, the Shockers managed just one against Loyola, but they atoned with a season-high 10 blocks. In addition to Morris' six, Baker added a pair.