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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- Jamar Howard scored 21 points as Wichita State beat Illinois State 78-72 Saturday night.
Wichita State (16-2, 9-1 Missouri Valley) led 62-58 when Adam Liberty made a 3-point shot. Trey Guidry made two free throws for Illinois State (14-6, 6-4) to pull within 65-60, but an alley-oop from Liberty to Howard gave the Shockers a 67-60 lead with 1:47 remaining. The Redbirds were forced to foul the rest of the way.
Randy Burns added 18 for the Shockers, who won their fifth straight, and PJ Couisnard had 13 points.
Vince Greene led the Redbirds with 19, including 6-of-7 from 3-point range. Guidry also had 19 for Illinois State, which had won four straight.
Illinois State opened the game on a 21-9 run. Wichita State clawed its way back into the game but trailed 35-28 at halftime.
The Redbirds forced eight turnovers and held the Shockers to 34 percent shooting in the half. The Redbirds shot 48 percent in the half, including five 3s.
The Shockers opened the second half on a 9-2 run, starting with Howard's first 3 of the year and capped by consecutive jumpers from Burns to tie the game at 37.
The teams traded baskets, tying the game at 42, 45, and finally at 51 with 9:36 remaining. The Shockers then went on a 9-0 run capped by Liberty's lay up to take a 60-51 lead.
Wichita State shot 46 percent for the game to 43 percent for Illinois State.
