WSU guard David Kyles scored 16 points, making all five of his shots. He scored two in his three previous games.
The score: WSU 82, UNI 57
Key statistics: The Shockers made 12 of 19 three-pointers and held the Panthers to eight baskets in the second half.
Records: UNI 16-10, 6-8 MVC; WSU 21-4, 12-2
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- While the Shockers scored quite efficiently in most MVC games, their outside shooting didn’t measure up. WSU entered Wednesday’s game making 33.2 percent of its threes in 13 conference games. After making 10 of 20 at Indiana State, the Shockers shot 29 of 98 (29.6 percent) in their next six games. Wednesday’s outburst doesn’t mean the Shockers problems are solved, but there is no better time for shooters to get hot. WSU will go to Creighton on Saturday with confidence and all the pressure on the Jays. “When we shoot it like that, we’ve always said, we’re a tough team to handle,” WSU coach Gregg Marshall said. “Obviously, our intent is to try to go inside. They started out by doubling the post. Garrett (Stutz) did a wonderful job of kicking it out. Our guys did a great job of moving, finding the open spots, making the extra pass. Then it became contagious.”
- Nobody needed to catch a good shooting night more than guard David Kyles, who entered the game 20 of 66 (30.3 percent) from three in MVC games. He made his first shot and the arena breathed a sigh of relief. Kyles got a big hand when he came out from the fans who knew how much he had been struggling. Kyles joked that he needed to hit that first one to stay in the gameplan. “I knew if I didn’t make that one, they would probably going to be doubling Stutz all night and they probably wouldn’t kick it to me as much,” he said, laughing. He scored 16 points, matching his MVC high this season.
- Kyles also did good work in other areas, handing out two assists and grabbing three boards and two steals. His defense was solid.
- WSU guard Joe Ragland pointed to a play that went largely unnoticed as important. Demetric Williams stole the opening tip after UNI’s Seth Tuttle knocked it toward WSU’s basket. Ben Smith made a three to start WSU on its way to a 17-7 lead. “It started with Demetric,” Ragland said. “That gave us numbers from the first possession, which led to Ben being open.” Another hustle play – Smith running down a long rebound – got Ragland open for his three and a 6-0 lead.
- UNI tried to lure Stutz away from the basket with Chip Rank shooting threes in the first half. WSU countered with a zone. Because of a lack of post scorers in the Valley, Stutz can often get away with playing center fielder in the lane. UNI tried to attack him offensively and didn’t have much success.
- Stutz recorded 10 points and 12 rebounds, his ninth double-double.
- WSU has done a solid job on Panthers guard Anthony James, who averages 13.5 points. He is 9 of 24 in two games against WSU this season.
- UNI freshman Seth Tuttle might be the Valley’s best freshman. He is right there with Illinois State guard Nic Moore as the top candidates.
- Because Marshall has cut down his rotation in recent games, the Shockers played more minutes than usual in recent games. On Wednesday, only Toure Murry played 30 or more minutes. While WSU’s rotation is smaller than last season, the Shockers aren’t piling up big minutes like Missouri State did last season. Entering the game, only Murry averaged 30 or more minutes in MVC play. Seven players averaged between 24.7 and 30.7.
- WSU needed at least a split this week to maintain. It can stay in first (tied with Creighton) with a split. It will remain an NCAA at-large team and on the edge of the top 25 with a split. Now is the time for the Shockers to get greedy. A win Saturday gives them a two-game MVC lead with three to play (and two of those at home) and a boost in NCAA Tournament seeding. It’s all there for the Shockers on Saturday.
- UNI gave up 80-plus points for the first time since an 81-75 loss at Siena on Feb. 21, 2009.
- WSU’s 25-point margin of victory is its largest in the 45-game series, beating the previous margin by one point (a 79-55 win in 2003). WSU also set marks for margin of victory against Southern Illinois (43 points) and Bradley (39) this season.
Next up: at Creighton, 4 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2)