COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Wichita State used a strong defensive effort to subdue Missouri, 61-55, Friday evening at Mizzou Arena.
Playing in their first true road game of the season, the Shockers (5-1) never trailed. They used an 8-0 run to build an 11-point lead near the midway point of the second half and remained in control the rest of the way.
WSU improved to 6-2 on the road under second-year head coach Isaac Brown and scored its first-ever victory over Mizzou. The Tigers defeated the Shockers last December at Charles Koch Arena and had won three other meetings in the early 1950s.
"In my eight years at Wichita State, we've been one of the better road teams in the country, but it wasn't about our offense," Brown said. "In order to be a team that can go out and get a win you've got to defend, rebound and play with toughness. And we executed tonight."
Tyson Etienne scored 13 of his game-high 18 points in the second half. He finished 7-of-17 from the field and knocked 3-of-9 three-point attempts.
WSU's platoon of centers also enjoyed a productive night with starter Morris Udeze tallying 15 points and five rebounds to go with Kenny Pohto's 10 points and seven boards. The pair combined to sink 10-of-14 shots, helped by five dunks.
The Shockers finished with a 41-35 advantage on the glass, with Craig Porter Jr. and Ricky Council IV grabbing seven rebounds apiece to share the team lead with Pohto. Porter also blocked two shots and dished out a team-best four assists in 26 minutes.
Amari Davis topped the scoring for Mizzou with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting.
For the fourth time in six games, WSU held its opponent under 60 points.
Mizzou (3-3) shot just 34.8 percent from the field and missed 16 of its 18 three-point attempts. From the 7:28-mark of the first half through the midway point of the second, the Tigers went 4-of-29 from the field.
WSU shot 46.9 percent and connected on 6-of-17 three-point tries.
The Shockers had won the turnover battle in each of their first five contests, but committed 18 miscues to Mizzou's 12 and made just 9-of-20 free throws.
Wichita State Athletics