Final
Shockers outlast Alabama to remain unbeaten
Dec 18, 2013 - 7:46 AM Tuscaloosa, AL (SportsNetwork.com) - Cleanthony Early poured in 26 points and 11th-ranked Wichita State continued its best start in school history with a 72-67 win over Alabama at Coleman Coliseum.Fred VanVleet and Tekele Cotton both scored 11 for the Shockers (11-0), who are three victories shy of their all-time best winning streak, set during the 1953-54 season.
"I am very pleased to move to 11-0 against a very good team in a very difficult place to win," Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said. "I know that firsthand. I've been here before and haven't had any success coming out with a victory."
The Shockers missed just two of their 27 foul shots and got a big offensive rebound and putback from Darius Carter in the final minute. VanVleet made two from the charity stripe with 11 seconds left to seal the outcome, after Retin Obasohan missed a 3-point shot for the Crimson Tide with his team down by three. Obasohan's shot hit off the rim and went over the backboard to give the ball back to the Shockers.
Trevor Releford had 22 points for Alabama (5-5), which also received 14 points from Rodney Cooper.
Wichita State, which has its highest regular-season ranking since the 2006-07 season when reaching No. 8 in Dec., 2006, scored the game's first seven points. Ron Baker's layup boosted the visitors to a 16-6 cushion 6:16 into the game.
Cooper's 3-pointer in the final minute of the half gave the Crimson Tide a 32-31 edge, but Cotton made two from the charity stripe to give the lead back to the Shockers at the break.
"They jumped on us. We had a lot of errors in the first half," Alabama coach Anthony Grant said.
In a tight second half, Alabama had its final lead at 56-53 on a Nick Jacobs dunk with 6:22 remaining. Baker responded with a 3-pointer and Early made two from the foul line.
Early's go-ahead two free throws, which made it 60-58 with 3:51 left, came after Releford's layup tied the score at 58.
Game Notes
Early made all 11 of his foul shots ... The Shockers held a 38-26 rebounding edge ... Wichita State hosts NC Central Sunday, while Alabama is home against Xavier a day earlier.
- WICHITA STATE: 72
ALABAMA: 67
Final
Dec 17 11:09 PM - 248
rootsRUWTbot Added 25 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Wichita State(11) 62, Alabama 61 2nd - 2:30Dec 17 11:02 PM - 223
rootsRUWTbot Took away 15 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Wichita State(11) 62, Alabama 59 2nd - 2:56Dec 17 11:01 PM - 238
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Wichita State(11) 58, Alabama 58 2nd - 3:51Dec 17 10:53 PM - 228
rootsRUWTbot Added 10 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Wichita State(11) 58, Alabama 58 2nd - 4:06Dec 17 10:52 PM - 218
rootsRUWTbot Added 10 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Wichita State(11) 58, Alabama 58 2nd - 4:44Dec 17 10:48 PM - 208
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Wichita State(11) 56, Alabama 56 2nd - 5:06Dec 17 10:47 PM - 198
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Wichita State(11) 56, Alabama 56 2nd - 6:04Dec 17 10:46 PM - 170
rootsRUWTbot Took away 18 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Wichita State(11) 53, Alabama 56 2nd - 6:22Dec 17 10:46 PM - 188
rootsRUWTbot Added 18 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Wichita State(11) 53, Alabama 54 2nd - 6:33Dec 17 10:45 PM - 170
rootsRUWTbot Took away 18 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Wichita State(11) 51, Alabama 54 2nd - 6:45Dec 17 10:45 PM - 188
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Wichita State(11) 51, Alabama 52 2nd - 7:11Dec 17 10:44 PM - 178
rootsRUWTbot Added 10 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Wichita State(11) 51, Alabama 52 2nd - 7:33Dec 17 10:40 PM - 168
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Wichita State(11) 51, Alabama 52 2nd - 8:01Dec 17 10:39 PM - 158
rootsRUWTbot Added 30 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Wichita State(11) 49, Alabama 49 2nd - 8:55Dec 17 10:38 PM - 128
roots - WICHITA STATE: 33
ALABAMA: 32
Halftime
Dec 17 9:58 PM - WICHITA STATE: 0
ALABAMA: 0
1st Half - 20:00
Dec 17 9:08 PM
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