CHICAGO – Fred VanVleet attempted six shots from the field and made them all. He took 10 foul shots, and every one of those went in, too.
Just another perfect line for Wichita State on Wednesday night.
VanVleet scored 22 points, and the third-ranked Shockers beat Loyola of Chicago 88-74 to remain the only unbeaten team in major college basketball.
“We want to be undefeated,” VanVleet said. “We don’t play the game to lose.”
Wichita State and top-ranked Syracuse began the day as the last Division I schools with perfect records. But the Orange lost 62-59 to Boston College in overtime, and the Shockers used an 11-2 run early in the second half to help close out the Ramblers.
“Every single night in college basketball when you’re playing another Division I program is a potential loss, especially on the road,” Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall said. “These guys find a way.”
Cleanthony Early scored 18 points as Wichita State became the 19th school to begin a season with 28 consecutive victories.
VanVleet, who grew up in Rockford, Ill., also had eight rebounds and six assists with only one turnover.
“We’re going to have to talk about that one turnover,” Marshall said wise.
The Shockers (28-0, 15-0 MVC) can clinch the Missouri Valley Conference title with a victory at home against Drake on Saturday night.
Loyola (9-18, 4-11 MVC) has lost three in a row and six of seven.
“They’re phenomenal at capitalizing on your mistakes,” Ramblers’ head coach Porter Moser said. “They just don’t leave you much room for error.”
Boosted by a near-capacity crowd of 4,577 at cozy Gentile Arena, the Ramblers battled back each time the Shockers tried to pull away in their first visit to Loyola’s campus on the north side of Chicago since a 79-77 win Feb. 9, 1976. It was just the third visit by a top-five team to the Ramblers’ current home, joining No. 2 Michigan State in 2000 and No. 5 Kansas State in 2010.
