No. 12 Wichita State beats Tennessee 70-61

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Tekele Cotton scored all 19 of his points in the second half and No. 12 Wichita State beat Tennessee 70-61 on Saturday as the Shockers got off to the best start in school history.

Darius Carter had 11 points and 14 rebounds and Cleanthony Early added 13 points for the Shockers (10-0).

Jordan McRae scored 26 points for Tennessee (6-3), which shot 16 of 47 (34 percent) over the final 35 minutes.

Trailing at halftime for the fifth time this season, Wichita State methodically worked its way to a 39-34 lead — the largest of the game for either team to that point — on Cotton’s tip-in with 15:06 remaining.

But Wichita State would not make another field goal for 5:57.

A 10-2 run by the Volunteers contained three dunks and Jarnell Stokes’ slam with 10:22 to play tied it 41-41.

Just 37 seconds later, Stokes dunked again while being fouled. He made the free throw for a 44-41 lead.

That is when Cotton took over.