Shockers improve to 7-0 in Valley with 74-55 win over Northern Iowa
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Ron Baker scored 21 points and Wichita State pulled away from Northern Iowa down the stretch in the Shockers' 74-55 win on Wednesday night.
After an 80-76 OT loss to Seton Hall on Dec. 19 dropped Wichita State's record to 5-5, the Shockers have won eight in a row, including their first seven in conference play.
Markis McDuffie finished with 15 points and Fred VanVleet added 12 points and six assists for Wichita State (13-5, 7-0 Missouri Valley), which shot 56.5 percent from the field while holding Northern Iowa to 32.8 percent.
The Shockers led just 58-52 with 4:11 to play but closed the game on a 16-3 run highlighted by two VanVleet 3-pointers and a perfect 4 for 4 at the free-throw line for Baker.
Matt Bohannon, Bennett Koch and Wes Washpun each finished with 14 points for the Panthers (10-10, 2-5).
Northern Iowa has lost five of six.
