DS Talk » team to a 40-9 win over the Saskatchewa

WICHITA, Kan. -- Wichita State will carry its pursuit of perfection into the Missouri Valley tournament. Cleanthony Early scored 19 points, Ron Baker added 13 and the second-ranked Shockers rolled to a 68-45 victory over Missouri State on Saturday, easily putting away a team that had given them fits this season. Relying on the same stubborn defence that carried it on last years improbable March run, Wichita State (31-0, 18-0) became the first team since Saint Josephs in 2004 to enter its league tournament unbeaten. The Shockers will have a first-round bye in St. Louis next week. Missouri State (19-11, 9-9) had them in trouble when they met Jan. 11 in Springfield, Mo., but the Bears blew a 19-point second-half lead and ultimately lost 72-69 in overtime. They never came close to making it a game Saturday, trailing by double-digits in the opening minutes. The Shockers are off to the best start since UNLV began 34-0 and lost in the 1991 national title game. Theyre also off to the best start by a Missouri Valley team since Indiana State, led by Larry Bird, won its first 33 games and fell to Michigan State in the 1979 title game. The Shockers last loss came in the Final Four, too -- to eventual champ Louisville last year. Putting this one away early gave a sellout crowd that had braved the threat of freezing rain ample opportunity to celebrate. Waving signs that applauded their unblemished record, fans packed inside Koch Arena serenaded a senior class led by Early that managed to elevate the program from a solid mid-major into a national power in the midst of a memorable season. Along with fellow seniors Chadrack Lufile, Kadeem Coleby and Nick Wiggins, Early gave coach Gregg Marshall a bear hug when he checked out for the final time in the closing minutes. Jarmar Gulley scored 15 points to lead Missouri State, which was dominated on the boards, in transition and just about everywhere else in losing its 10th straight against ranked teams. Unlike the first meeting, when it was Wichita State that stumbled early, Missouri State missed 18 of its first 22 shots, suffocated under token pressure and never got into a rhythm. When the Bears werent blowing layups, they were turning the ball over, leading to some easy baskets at the other end. Wichita State shot 57 per cent from the field in the first half, a big reason why it had built a 20-point lead just before the break. The trio of Early, Baker and Fred VanVleet picked up where it left off out of the locker room, Early scoring quickly and Baker hitting a long 3-pointer to keep Missouri State at bay. In fact, the only interesting moment of the second half came when Lufile was fouled with about 10 minutes to go. After missing his first seven free throw attempts, the big senior forward -- with the crowd rising to its feet -- finally got one to rattle home. Of course, it hardly mattered that Lufiles foul shooting wasnt perfect. Everything else about Wichita State is these days. Rock Ya-Sin Jersey . Jonathan Crompton led the team to a 40-9 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Crompton threw three touchdown passes - two to Duron Carter and one to Brandon London - and Sean Whyte connected on four field goals to power the Alouettes to the win. Pat McAfee Womens Jersey .Y. - Phil Varone was the lone scorer in the shootout as the Rochester Americans edged the Toronto Marlies 3-2 on Sunday in American Hockey League action. http://www.officialindianapoliscoltspro....e-colts-jersey/. "We cannot stay the same way the whole season long," said Reyes. "This is not acceptable. Something needs to change because were a better team than what were showing right now. Its a long season and we just need to continue to push." Its been a frustrating week for the ballclub. Parris Campbell Jersey . -- Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh says he isnt going to change what he does on the field. Kenny Moore Jersey . PAUL, Minn.CINCINNATI - The Reds acquired outfielder Marlon Byrd and cash from the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday for a minor league pitcher, filling the biggest hole in their lineup.The Reds tried to get a left fielder through free agency but failed, prompting them to trade for the 37-year-old Byrd. He played centre field and right field during his major league career, but came up through the minors as a left fielder.Hopefully its going to be like riding a bike, Byrd said during a conference call. Im going to have to put a little extra work on it this off-season.Byrd is the latest veteran traded for prospects as the Phillies rebuild. Theyve also sent 2007 National league MVP Jimmy Rollins to the Dodgers and left-handed reliever Antonio Bastardo to the Pirates. The Phillies have missed the playoffs three straight years after winning five straight NL East titles, two pennants and the 2008 World Series.Byrd gets $8 million next season. Theres an $8 million team option for 2016 at $8 million that becomes guaranteed if Byrd gets 509 at-bats next season. He had 591 at-bats last season with the Phillies and batted .264 with 28 doubles, 25 homers and 85 RBIs. He also fanned a career-high 185 times.I know people are going to say he struck out a lot — he struck out last year more than he has, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. He had 28 doubles, 25 homers and 85 RBIs, and thats something we definitely need on our club. Hopefullyy we can get him to cut down on the strikeouts.ddddddddddddeft field has been a trouble spot for the Reds since Ryan Ludwick suffered a shoulder injury on opening day 2013. He returned last season and batted only .244 with nine homers and 45 RBIs. The Reds decided to pay a $4.5 million buyout after the season rather than bring him back on a $9 million option.You know the theme weve been talking about a lot here, thats been having somebody that can really go out there on a daily basis and play the game the right way, manager Bryan Price said.The Reds were interested in Byrd during the 2013 season. Byrd wound up going from the Mets to the Pirates, who reached the playoffs with his help.The Phillies got right-hander Ben Lively, who was the Reds minor league player of the year for 2014. Lively, 22, went a combined 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA in Class A and Double-A last season. The Reds agreed to give up one of their better pitching prospects when the Phillies agreed to include money to cover some of Byrds salary.Yes, its a tough decision to give up a young pitcher, but it really is a strength of our organization, especially right-handed pitching, Jocketty said. They are paying a significant amount of his salary this year, which is the only way we would have been able to do this deal.___AP Sports Writer Rob Maaddi in Philadelphia contributed to this report.___Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay ' ' '