WICHITA, Kan. (AP)—Missouri State held off Wichita State 59-56 Sunday night to take sole possession of first place in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Kyle Weems, Adam Leonard and Jermaine Mallett each had 11 points for Missouri State (13-3, 5-0), winners of seven straight. The Bears already have road wins at Northern Iowa, Creighton and Wichita State—the other teams joining Missouri State in the top four of the MVC preseason coaches’ poll.
J.T. Durley had 11 points and 10 rebounds for Wichita State (13-3, 4-1), which saw its eight-game winning streak end.
The Shockers, trailing by double digits most of the second half, went on a 13-2 run capped by a Durley tip-in to give them a 54-53 lead with 4 minutes remaining. But Leonard hit a 3-pointer to restore the Bears’ lead, and the Shockers managed only two free throws in the final 4 minutes.
