Wichita State 78 - 61 Drake
Final
  for this game

No. 5 Wichita State cruises past Drake

Jan 26, 2014 - 7:39 AM Des Moines, IA (SportsNetwork.com) - Cleanthony Early poured in 19 points and fifth-ranked Wichita State remained unbeaten with a 78-61 domination of Drake Saturday night.

Ron Baker scored 14 and Nick Wiggins had 11 for the Shockers (21-0, 8-0 MVC), who continued the best start to a season in school history. Next up for Wichita State is a home game Tuesday against Loyola-Chicago.

Aaron Hawley had 16 points and Chris Caird scored 15 for Drake (11-9, 2-6), which lost for the sixth time in seven games. Jordan Daniels tallied 12 points in defeat.

Tekele Cotton drained a jumper to give the visitors the lead for good at 17-15 with 11:47 left in the half. Early then converted a three-point play and the Shockers were able to widen the gap to 37-29 at the break. Cotton capped the half's scoring with a one-handed alley-oop jam off a pass from Baker.

"He is very versatile," Hawley said of Early. "He's a tough match-up and that's what a good player looks like. He'll stretch you out and whenever you let him, he'll take you to a rim. He's a good player."

Cotton's jumper with 13:27 remaining expanded the margin to 52-35, and the Shockers coasted the rest of the way.

Drake had just 10 points in the paint, compared to 32 for the Shockers, who led by as many as 25.

Game Notes

Drake's last win against a top-10 opponent was a 71-64 decision over No. 8 Butler on Feb. 22, 2008 in Indianapolis ... The Shockers held a 34-20 rebounding advantage ... Wichita State has won eight of the last 10 meetings.






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