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WICHITA, Kan. -- 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." Stitched Phillies Jerseys . Jovanovski, the 2012 champ seeded fifth, will meet surprise Japanese qualifier Misa Eguchi on Friday. Eguchi, ranked 183rd, qualified for her first WTA main draw this week, then beat No. Philadelphia Phillies Pro Shop . - Pierre-Maxime Poudrier scored twice and added an assist, and Antoine Bibeau made 43 saves as the Val-dOr Foreur downed the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 6-3 on Sunday to force Game 7 in their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League final series. https://www.cheapphilliesjerseys.us/ . Appearing on TSN 690 Monday afternoon, Mike Babcock said he had conversations with both P.K. Subban and Carey Price about those on-ice traits during Hockey Canadas summer orientation camp. Mike Babcock: McGill experience, P. Philadelphia Phillies Store .com) - Nicolas Colsaerts fired an 11-under 60 on Thursday and grabbed a 3-stroke lead with the opening round of the Portugal Masters suspended by rain. Philadelphia Phillies Shirts . Ilonen birdied five of his closing seven holes in superb scoring conditions to end the day with a two-shot lead on the Fota Island course. Ilonen had just 26 putts on the occasion of his 300th European Tour event.CINCINNATI - Jeremy Hill took the handoff, saw the hole and hit it. Just like that, he was off for a touchdown that would finally decide a sloppy, back-and-forth game.Hill ran 60 yards to the end zone in the fourth quarter Sunday, part of a 154-yard effort that steadied the Cincinnati Bengals to a 33-23 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars and kept them alone atop the AFC North.The rookie from LSU made it look easy. Sounded that way, too.It was a great job by the offensive line, said Hill, who scored twice. I just had to make one guy miss.The Bengals (5-2-1) did enough ugly things to allow the Jaguars (1-8) to stay in the game until the fourth quarter. Even after Hills long touchdown run, the Jaguars had one final chance that ended when rookie Blake Bortles — the NFLs interception leader — threw one in the end zone with 3:55 left.Add another one to the Jaguars collection of games in which they played well enough to stay close but couldnt pull it out at the end.Youve got to figure out ways to win, receiver Cecil Shorts said. Thats definitely the next thing to get over that hump. As an offence, defence special teams, every category we couldve done better and we still had a chance at the end.The Jaguars headed straight from Cincinnati to London, where theyll play Dallas. The Bengals started getting ready for a big intrastate game — they host Cleveland on Thursday night with first place at stake.There was never any panic, Hill said. We have faith in our guys. It was just a back-and-forth game. A huge win for us. We needed to stay on top of our division.Some things learned at Paul Brown Stadium:THE REAL DEAL: With Giovani Bernard inactive because of hip and shoulder injuries, Hill made his first start and produced the biggest day by a Bengals running back since Cedric Benson ran for 189 yards against the Bears five years ago. Cincinnati took him in the second round because it wanted a big running back who also is a breakaway threat. When they needed a big play Sunday, Hill provided it.I think thats what they envisioned forr me, Hill said.ddddddddddddGREEN EASES IN: Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green returned after missing three games with an injured big right toe and had three catches for 44 yards and a touchdown in limited playing time. He had another touchdown catch nullified because he lined up beyond the line of scrimmage. He expects to play on Thursday against Cleveland. The Bengals were happy with how they eased him back into the lineup.Obviously, theres a little transition, having not played in a few weeks, said Andy Dalton, who was 19 of 31 for 233 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. It was a good start.BORTLES AND INTs: The Bengals dropped at least five potential interceptions, but finally came up with the one that clinched it. Bortles threw the ball directly to safety George Iloka in the end zone, his NFL-leading 13th interception. Although he had some good moments in the second half and finished 22 of 33 for 247 yards with two touchdowns to Allen Hurns, it was that one interception that finished it off.I tried to throw it out of the end zone, Bortles said. It wasnt what I wanted. It didnt come out of my hand great.SLOPPY JAGUAR KICKING: Bryan Anger had one punt deflected and another blocked out of the end zone by Taylor Mays for a safety in the first half. After the Jaguars cut it to 26-23 on Denard Robinsons touchdown run, Josh Scobees kickoff went out of bounds, giving Cincinnati the ball at its 40. Hill ran for a touchdown on the next play.Our special teams unit did not perform very well, coach Gus Bradley said.INJURIES: Jaguars guard Brandon Linder (shoulder), safety Josh Evans (shoulder) and linebacker Jeremiah George (sprained ankle) left the game and didnt return. Bengals right tackle Andre Smith sprained his left ankle in the first half, returned before halftime but sat out the second half. Cornerback Leon Hall was being evaluated for a concussion in the second half. Hill missed a series in the first half after twisting his left knee.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '