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No. 9 Wichita State 72, Alabama 67: Cleanthony Early scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half as the visiting Shockers continued the best start in program history with a win over the Crimson Tide.

Anthony made all 11 of his free throws and scored 11 points in the final six-plus minutes. Tekele Cotton and Fred VanVleet had 11 points apiece and Darius Carter added nine points and a game-high seven rebounds off the bench for Wichita State (11-0), which had a 38-26 advantage on the boards and was 25-of-27 from the line.

Trevor Releford returned from a one-game layoff due to a hip issue to score 22 points for the Crimson Tide (5-5). Rodney Cooper chipped in 14 points in a reserve role.

Releford hit back-to-back 3-pointers with with just under nine minutes left to put Alabama up 52-51 but Anthony made four straight free throws and then had a dunk and a three-point play to give the Shockers a 65-61 edge with two minutes left. The Crimson Tide twice got within a point but Carter and VanVleet had answers in the final minute to help Wichita State hang on.

The Shockers scored the game's first seven points and took an 18-9 lead on Carter's basket less than seven minutes in. Cooper's 3-pointer in the finale minute of the first half gave Alabama a short-lived lead as Cotton made two free throws to give Wichita State an advantage it would not lose until Releford's consecutive 3- pointers.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Shockers had zero assists at halftime and finished with six, led by four from G Ron Baker. ... Wichita State picked up its second win against a Southeastern Conference team in as many games, having defeated Tennessee at home Saturday. ... Alabama G Retin Obasohan, who entered averaging 15.2 points, was held to eight on 2-of-10 shooting.