The RoundHouse | 11/14/2018 6:33:00 AM

Scoring 30 or more points is a function of skill, but also playing time and score of the game. 
 
Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall's tenure is light on 30-point scorers, in part because his teams share points and minutes. The 30-spot is rare because he uses blowouts to rest starters instead of padding stats.
 
It shouldn't be surprising, therefore, that most of the 30-point games in Marshall's 11-plus seasons matter. There are eight and in seven the scorer played 30 or more minutes – which rarely happens against overmatched opponents. Most of these eight performances helped push the season in the right direction against a significant opponent.
 
Ranking Wichita State's 30-point games since 2007-08:
 
No. 1 - Cleanthony Early: 31 points vs. Kentucky, March 23, 2014
 
Early's NCAA Tournament performance is the lone loss (78-76) on this list, which doesn't diminish the landmark. He turned in a memorable effort in a game judged the best of the 2014 NCAA Tournament by Sports Illustrated, against a team with seven future NBA players in the box score.
 
Early made 12 of 17 shots, 4 of 6 from three-point range, in addition to grabbing seven rebounds in St. Louis. If you're making a case for Early's jersey retirement, this game is one of your biggest points. His Ken Pomeroy offensive rating of 165 is the highest among all players in the game
 
No. 2 - Joe Ragland: 31 points vs. UNLV, Dec. 4, 2011
 
If No. 1 is an easy choice, a cluster of similar performances makes the next five spots challenging to rank. Ragland's stands out because it helped the 2011-12 team earn an NCAA at-large bid to end a five-season absence. The Shockers dropped games to Alabama and Temple and needed to regain standing.
 
The Rebels entered the game ranked No. 16 and finished the season No. 37 in the Pomeroy rankings. They earned a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. 
 
Ragland made 8 of 9 three-pointers, tied for second in a game for a Shocker, to lead an 89-70 win at Koch Arena.
 
No. 3 - Landry Shamet: 30 points at Oklahoma State, Dec. 9, 2017
 
Shamet needed a mere 11 shots (making six) to score 30 at Gallagher-Iba Arena in a 78-66 win. He made 14 of 16 free throws and handed out five assists with two turnovers.
 
His offensive efficiency rank of 159 (1.59 points per possession) ranks sixth for all Shocker road games against a team ranked in the Pomeroy top 50 since 2012-13. None of the five ranked above him scored more than 21 points or handed out more than two assists.
 
On the road, against a legit opponent, no recent Shocker made more plays that contributed to a win than Shamet on that afternoon.
 
No. 4 - Markis McDuffie: 32 points vs. Providence, Nov. 9, 2018
 
McDuffie lifted the gloom after Wichita State's opening loss to Louisiana Tech. He made a career-high 6 of 9 three-pointers in Friday's 83-80 win over Providence in the Veterans Classic in Annapolis, Md. 
 
The Friars are picked third in the Big East after making the NCAA Tournament for a fifth straight season. The Shockers needed their seniors to come up big and McDuffie delivered a signature performance.
 
No. 5 - Ragland: 30 points at Davidson, Feb. 18, 2012
 
The Shockers entered this Bracket Busters game feeling wary of the NCAA selection committee. They blew out the Wildcats 91-74 to earn a top-100 road win and feel better about their NCAA resume, one that ultimately produced an at-large spot and a No. 5 seed.
 
Ragland made 11 of 14 shots (3 of 4 from three-point range) and added seven rebounds. 
 
No. 6 - Fred VanVleet: 32 points at Evansville, Jan. 31, 2016
 
VanVleet made all 15 of his foul shots to strangle the hopes of a sellout crowd of 10,034 at Ford Center. The Aces entered the game two games behind the Shockers in the Missouri Valley Conference and saw a chance to make it a race.
 
VanVleet and the Shockers led 32-21 at halftime and weren't challenged in the second half. With other Shockers in foul trouble, VanVleet played 38 minutes and made 8 of 18 shots. 
 
VanVleet took some teasing from teammates after getting stuck on 29 points in an earlier game. Two weeks later, he got his 30.
 
No. 7 - Early: 39 points vs. Southern Illinois, Jan. 9, 2013
 
Early registered Wichita State's highest points total since 1985 (Xavier McDaniel, 44 vs. West Texas State) by making 13 of 19 shots and 5 of 9 threes in an 82-76 win at Koch Arena. 
 
The Shockers needed Early's outburst. They trailed SIU 43-34 at half. After the Salukis cut Wichita State's lead to 73-69, Early responded with a three-pointer and a layup. 
 
No. 8 - Samajae Haynes-Jones: 31 points vs. Savannah State, Nov. 28, 2017
 
Savannah State is an opponent guaranteed to allow big numbers and Haynes-Jones, in his sixth game as a Shocker, took full advantage. He made 11 of 17 shots and also handed out five assists in a 112-66 win at Koch Arena.
 
He made 4 of 6 threes and the Shockers made 13 of 31. Savannah State made 13 of 55 three-pointers.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.