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.
