WICHITA STATE 89, CREIGHTON 68: Ben Smith matched a career high with 22 points and the Shockers handed the No. 15 Bluejays their third straight loss and sent the largest home crowd in Creighton history to the exits early.

Wichita State (22-4, 13-2 Missouri Valley Conference) led by as many as 24 points and took a two-game lead in the MVC with three to play.

Joe Ragland scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half for the Shockers. Smith scored 15 in the first half.

Creighton (21-5, 11-4), once the best 3-point shooting team in the country, was 5 for 23 from beyond the arc and is 14 for 61 during the losing streak.

Wichita State's Garrett Stutz, who came in averaging 21.8 points over his last five games, was plagued by foul trouble and scored only eight points. The Shockers, though, seemed to play better without the 7-foot center as their guards couldn’t miss.

Wichita State shot 60 percent in the first half and used runs of 11-0 and 8-0 to grab a 49-36 lead. The Shockers’ guards were able to drive the ball at will and were 5 for 8 from 3-point range.

All-American candidate Doug McDermott scored 13 points on 5-for-14 shooting while Gregory Echenique had 16 for Creighton.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Wichita State won for the second straight time in Omaha after losing the previous 17. … The 89 points were the most allowed by Creighton this season. … Creighton lost three straight conference games for the first time since January 2008.