• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

VanVleet leads Wichita State past Indiana

Mar 20, 2015 - 10:52 PM Omaha, NE (SportsNetwork.com) - Fred VanVleet matched a career high with 27 points and reached a scoring milestone Friday, helping Wichita State to an 81-76 win over Indiana in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

VanVleet, who added four assists and two steals, became the third Wichita State player to join the 1,000-point club this season.

One of the other players to reach the mark, Ron Baker, struggled from the floor against Indiana but made critical free throws down the stretch. Baker shot 3-for-13, including 0-for-5 from the 3-point range, and finished 9-for-10 at the foul line for 15 points.

Zach Brown had 11 points and eight rebounds -- both career highs -- for the Shockers (29-4), who are seeded seventh in the Midwest Region and will face Kansas on Sunday. The two programs have not played since Jan. 6, 1993.

Yogi Ferrell scored 24 points to lead four Indiana players in double figures. Troy Williams had 11 points and 12 rebounds for the 10th-seeded Hoosiers (20-14).

Indiana coach Tim Crean was asked about what he thinks his young team could do next season.

"I don't have a lot of deep thoughts on that one yet, but we have to build consistency in all the areas and improve and stay on course, because I think they got a lot better during the year," he said.

Wichita State, coming off a surprising loss to Illinois State in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament two weeks ago, used a 15-3 run to grab a 65-57 lead with 7:53 remaining.

The Hoosiers trimmed their deficit to 72-71 when Ferrell hit a corner 3- pointer with 2:21 left.

Baker helped seal the win by going 7-of-8 from the free-throw line in the final 1:58.

Indiana cut it to 76-74 on a Williams layup with 1:04 remaining, but Tekele Cotton scored inside off a dish from Darius Carter. After Ferrell converted a pair at the line, Baker was fouled and made two free throws with 19 seconds left.

James Blackmon Jr. missed a layup for Indiana with 12 seconds to go.

"I'm just excited to be moving on," said Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall. "Another nail biter, another game with back and forth, not much separation either way."

Indiana built a 19-12 lead with 10:28 to play in the first half, but Wichita State tied it at 23 on a Brown 3-pointer. The Hoosiers scored the next eight points and settled for a 39-36 lead at the break.

Game Notes

Wichita State is making its school-record fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance ... Indiana made its 38th appearance in the NCAA Tournament ... The Shockers haven't lost consecutive games since Feb. 27 and March 2, 2013 ... Indiana won the only previous meeting between the teams, a 75-54 decision in the Hoosier Classic on Dec. 27, 1989 ... Blackmon had 14 points and Hartman scored 11 ... The Hoosiers were 11-for-22 from 3-point range ... Wichita State outscored Indiana 44-24 in the paint.