Garrett Stutz scored 25 points, and Ben Smith added 21 more to help Wichita State (19-4, 10-2) erase a two-point halftime deficit and escape JQH Arena with a 74-67 win over Missouri State (13-11, 6-6) Wednesday in Missouri Valley Conference play.

The Bears shot 65.2 percent from the field in the first half to build a 36-34 advantage at the intermission, but WSU tallied 40 second-half points to hand MSU its sixth blown halftime lead of the season.

Kyle Weems scored 21 points behind five three-pointers to lead for Bears in double figures. Jarmar Gulley added 14, Anthony Downing scored 13, and Keith Pickens contributed a career-high 12 points for MSU which fell to 3-4 at home in league play and 6-6 overall.

With the loss, MSU is now in a four-way tie for third place in the MVC with Illinois State, Evansville and Drake — a team the Bears play in DesMoines on Saturday night. Wichita remained one game behind first-place Creighton in the league standings.