Shockers set sights on Jets

Nov 23, 2014 - 4:16 PM Wichita, KS (SportsNetwork.com) - Following a big win over Memphis, the 11th- ranked Wichita State Shockers will look to remain unbeaten as they take on their cross-town rival Newman Jets in a non-conference showcase at Charles Koch Arena.

Newman is playing this game as an exhibition, so it won't count against its schedule. The Jets have won the first two games of their season, though, and are coming off a 90-79 victory over Washburn.

Wichita State is one of the hotter teams in the country after earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament a season ago. The 11th-ranked Shockers have started the 2014-15 season 2-0, with a recent 71-56 win over the Tigers on Tuesday.

The two teams have only met once on the court before, despite their campuses both being located in Wichita, Kansas. The Shockers hold the 1-0 all-time series advantage.

Newman coasted past Washburn in the team's latest outing, led by a solid effort from top scorer Reggie Baker. Baker helped his Jets to shoot 46.3 percent from the floor, including 10-of-27 from 3-point range. Baker poured in 30 points with six rebounds in the win, but also had six turnovers as well. Jeremy Espinoza netted 21 points in the game with four assists, and Cortrael Colbert contributed 11 points with a team-best seven assists. The defense for the Jets was solid in the winning effort, as the team held Washburn to 23.1 percent shooting from 3-point distance, and 38.2 percent shooting from the floor in the first half that helped Newman take the early lead.

Baker has been sensational through two games for the Jets, netting 24.5 ppg on an impressive 52.9 percent shooting touch from the field. His 7-of-15 streak from beyond the arc equates to a 46.7 shooting percentage from distance, and his 4.5 rpg mark is one of the best on the squad. Espinoza checks in behind Baker in scoring this season with a 13.5 ppg average, followed by Colbert at 12,0 ppg and James Pegues at 10.5 ppg. Pegues leads the Jets this season in rebounding, bringing down 7.0 boards per contest. Newman is scoring an average of 88.0 ppg, which the team would love to keep up against the Shockers.

Wichita State was able to easily handle Memphis in the team's last contest, as the Shockers cruised to a seven-point halftime lead and then continued to build on it in the second half. Ron Baker netted a team-best 21 points in the win, adding five rebounds and six assists with two steals to his resume. Fred VanVleet scored 15 points with four steals, and Darius Carter chipped in with 12 points. Tekele Cotton rounded out the Wichita State double-digit scorers with 10 points. The Shockers didn't have the best day shooting the ball, netting 40.3 percent of their attempts from the floor.

In two games this season it's Baker that sits atop the team's scoring leaderboard with 18.5 ppg. The guard has a well-rounded stat line, adding in 4.5 rpg and seven total assists through two games played. Cotton is second on the team with a 13.5 ppg average, and both VanVleet and Carter are adding 10.5 ppg. VanVleet's 11 steals this season is a team high, and his 4.5 rpg mark is tied with four other players on the Shockers' roster for the best on the squad. As a unit, Wichita State is scoring 71.0 ppg and giving up just 55.0 ppg to opponents.