The Sports Xchange
Dec 19, 2017
Samajae Haynes-Jones scored 27 points off the bench, including a late 3-pointer that helped No. 11 Wichita State put away Arkansas State 89-80 on Tuesday at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kan.
Landry Shamet finished with 18 points for Wichita State, which bounced back from a loss to Oklahoma over the weekend to win its 24th straight game at Charles Koch Arena.
But it wasn't easy.
The Shockers trailed at halftime and struggled to separate themselves from the Red Wolves until late in the second half. Shamet hit two 3-pointers during a 15-2 run that had Wichita State up 77-65 with seven minutes to play.
Arkansas State rallied and got within four, 84-80, on a jumper from Deven Simms, who had a game-high 30 points for the Red Wolves.
Haynes-Jones hit a 3-pointer on the Shockers' next possession, and Shamet followed with a jumper in the final minutes to seal the hard-fought win.
Wichita State (9-2) got off to a quick start. Austin Reaves hit three 3-pointers in the first four minutes as the Shockers raced out to a 15-6 lead.
Arkansas State (4-8) answered quickly and took a 30-29 lead on a pair of free throws from Simms with eight minutes left in the half. Ty Cockfield and Connor Kern each hit 3-pointers in the final three minutes of the half, and Arkansas State, which is 1-7 on the road this season, went into halftime with a 50-44 lead.
The Shockers quickly regained the lead in the second half, with Shamet knocking down a 3-pointer that put Wichita State in front 62-59 with 12:13 to play.
Cockfield finished with 16 points for Arkansas State.
Led by Haynes-Jones, Wichita State's bench outscored the Red Wolves' reserves 37-12.
NOTES: Wichita State fell from No. 3 to No. 11 in the AP poll after losing to Oklahoma on Saturday. ... The Shockers surrendered 50 or more points in the first half for a second straight game. ... Tuesday's game was the first meeting between Wichita State and Arkansas State in 46 years. ... Both of Wichita State G Austin Reaves' parents played at Arkansas State. ... The Red Wolves return home to host Culver-Stockton on Friday. ... The Shockers host Florida-Gulf Coast on Friday.