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WICHITA, Kan. www.jacksonvillefootballshop.com/28-Jersey . -- Wichita State went to the Final Four last year, yet there was something missing for that team: a Missouri Valley Conference championship. This season the Shockers were focused on not letting that happen. So after No. 3 Wichita State routed Drake 83-54 Saturday night behind Tekele Cottons 21 points and Darius Carters 15, the Shockers relished cutting down the nets to celebrate a conference title that seemed like a foregone conclusion some time ago. "It means a lot, it really does," said point guard Fred VanVleet, who had 15 points and six assists. "Its something we didnt do last year. Its special, and we appreciate it. But, at the same time, we have more goals ahead of us." Wichita State (29-0, 16-0 Missouri Valley) is the first team to start 29-0 since Illinois in 2004-05 and is two wins away from a perfect regular season. The Shockers cruised despite leading scorer Cleanthony Early being held to a season-low three points and Ron Baker only scoring six, less than half his season average. Daddy Ugbede scored 14 points, Jordan Daniels had 13 and Aaron Hawley 10 for Drake (14-14, 5-11), which had more turnovers (20) than field goals (18). Drake coach Ray Giacoletti can compare this seasons Wichita State team to that of a year ago. He was an assistant at Gonzaga last season, and the top-seeded Bulldogs lost to the Shockers in the NCAA Tournament. "Its a much better basketball team now than it was at that time," Giacoletti said. "Ive been doing this 29 years and have been around a lot of great teams that try to outscore you and out-talent you. This team tries to out-tough you in every single facet and really doesnt care about the other stuff." That toughness was flaunted in a 31-4 run Wichita State wrapped around halftime, an onslaught so complete that the Shockers completed the 14-1 portion to start the second half without Drake even attempting a field goal. After trailing early, the Bulldogs held the Shockers scoreless for over 3 minutes, going on a 9-0 run capped by Hawleys backdoor layup for a 15-14 lead with 9:18 remaining in the first half. To make matters worse for Wichita State, Early was on the bench with two fouls and Baker soon joined him with his second. But Wichita State started the game-turning run behind Carter, a reserve who scored four straight before the Shockers started a parade of baskets at the rim. "I thought Darius gave us a huge lift tonight," Shockers coach Gregg Marshall said. "He was really active." VanVleet and Cotton had layups. Cotton and Nick Wiggins had back-to-back slams. VanVleets 3-pointer helped Wichita State lead 31-18 at halftime. The Shockers roll only gained momentum to start the second half. After Drakes Seth VanDeest made a free throw, Wichita State scored 14 straight. Cotton and Carter converted three-point plays to get it started and Carter had another slam. And Kadeem Coleby and VanVleet put back offensive rebounds, bringing roars from the crowd. The Shockers led 45-19 with 16:35 remaining, and Drake seemed befuddled. Much of that had to do with Cotton, who had seven steals in the game. "Was there two Tekele Cottons out there?" Marshall asked, joking. "It sure seemed like it." Cotton said his approach was simple. "I just try to get in position where they dont see me," he said. "Sometimes I can get in the passing lanes and get it. Sometimes, I dont." Hawley ended the run with a 3-pointer 15 seconds later, the Bulldogs first shot attempt of the half. After that, the Shockers could sub liberally and soon start celebrating an outright Missouri Valley title, actually clinched earlier in the day when Indiana State lost. "Hopefully," Marshall said, "this isnt our only championship." www.jacksonvillefootballshop.com/72-Jersey . The 12th-ranked Haas served well throughout the match at the Ibirapuera arena, allowing only one break point to the 152nd-ranked Italian. Both players held serve until the first-set tiebreak, when Haas stepped up his game to easily clinch the set. www.jacksonvillefootballshop.com/56-Jersey . -- Derek Jeter says the New York Yankees have no choice but to move forward now that Alex Rodriguez has accepted his suspension for the 2014 season.INDIANAPOLIS -- LeBron James and Dwyane Wade followed the same old script Tuesday night. When Miami got into trouble, the All-Star duo bailed out the Heat. Again. James scored the first six points in a decisive 12-2 run, and combined with Wade for Miamis final 20 points in an 87-83 victory over the Indiana Pacers that left the Eastern Conference final tied at a game apiece. "Thats why theyre the hundred million dollar guys," teammate Norris Cole said. "Theyre unstoppable. They make the game easy for everyone else when theyre in attack mode." Thats exactly how the money guys played during the final 12 minutes. Wade, who had 13 points in the Heats 41-point first half, scored his final 10 in the fourth. James, who finished with 22 points, had 12 in the fourth. Together they helped Miami avoid falling into a 2-0 deficit for the first time since the first round of the 2010 playoffs. Lance Stephenson tied his playoff career high with 25 points for the Pacers. Paul George scored 14. Now the series shifts back to Miami for Game 3 on Saturday and Game 4 on Monday. This one had a different feel compared to a couple of Miamis important games in the 2013 post-season. A year ago in Game 7 at Miami, the Heats money players overwhelmed Indiana 99-76. Then, after losing Game 1 in the finals to San Antonio, James, Wade and Chris Bosh helped Miami storm back for a 19-point win. On Tuesday, the Pacers were in a strong position midway through the fourth before James and Wade helped Miami seize the home-court advantage Indiana so desperately wanted for this series. Miami has won 11 straight games following a playoff loss. "Its not going to be pretty. Not in the Eastern Conference," James said. "Its never pretty basketball in the Eastern Conference. Its about who can sustain runs. You know, who can get defensive stops? Who can not turn the ball over and who can get great shots? I think we did that in the fourth." At times, the rough-and-tumble night took on the aura of a football game, especially late. When George and Wade collided chasing a loose ball, both came up grimacing. Wade held his left knee. George also grabbed at his knee though he said afterward he hhad blurred vision and may have blacked out. www.jacksonvillefootballshop.com/9-Jersey . Coach Frank Vogel would not confirm Georges description. Another time, James crashed hard to the floor when David West was called for a flagrant one foul in the fourth quarter, which was changed to a common foul following a replay review. There were hard picks, tight defence and James and Wade back in their old groove. The Pacers expected all of it in this title bout. They just couldnt finish it off. "We were winning the whole night," guard George Hill said. "We controlled the whole game until the last couple minutes." But two days after allowing the Pacers to score 107 points, Indianas highest total of the post-season, Miami held Indiana to nine points over a 10-minute stretch in the first half and closed it out with by allowing just 10 points over the final 7:19. "Today it was just about how bad we wanted it," Wade said. "It wasnt about Xs and Os. It wasnt a perfect game by no stretch of the imagination. We kept digging down deep, and we got back to Miami Heat basketball." Even the Heat acknowledged they were in trouble Tuesday after Indiana used a 10-2 third-quarter run to retake a 47-45 lead, and then extended the margin to 63-56 with 2:07 left in the third quarter. James closed out the quarter by finding Bosh and Cole for open 3-pointers to make it 63-62. George hit a 29-footer to make it 73-69 with 7:19 left. But James and Wade stepped up again. James hit a 3 to make it a one-point game, and after Roy Hibbert made a 6-foot hook shot, James scored six straight to start the decisive 12-2 run that sealed the win. "We have no idea were doing that until after the game," James said. "Were just going to make the right play for our team. Tonight was one of those nights." NOTES: Miami coach Erik Spoelstra started Udonis Haslem instead of Shane Battier. Center Greg Oden again was inactive. ... George was just 1 of 11 from the field in the first half. ... There were 21 lead changes and seven ties after having none of either in Game 1. ... Miami residents Helio Castroneves and Juan Pablo Montoya, both Indy 500 champions, attended the game and waved towels. ' ' '
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