WICHITA STATE ATHLETIC COMMINICATIONS
WICHITA, Kan. - Kenyon Giles erupted with a career-high 33 points, powering a shorthanded Wichita State team to a 78-67 win over North Texas Sunday afternoon in Charles Koch Arena.
Wichita State (10-7, 2-2) was without starting wing TJ Williams who missed the game with a concussion.
Giles scored his 33 points on an ultra-efficient 13-of-17 shooting, adding four three-pointers and a perfect 3-of-3 effort at the free throw line. He has now set a new career high in three of the last four games. His 33 points were the most by a Shocker since Markis McDuffie scored 34 on March 15, 2019.
Karon Boyd added nine points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks, while Dillon Battie chipped in 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds to go with relentless energy on both ends. Battie stepped into Williams starting spot and produced his best game as a Shocker.
Wichita State shot 51.0 percent from the floor and converted 21-of-29 (72.4 percent) at the free throw line. Wichita State was able to overcome a season-high 18 turnovers - 13 of those resulting in live ball steals for North Texas.
North Texas briefly struck first, but Wichita State quickly seized control with activity on the glass and in transition. Emmanuel Okorafor opened the scoring for the Shockers with an emphatic two-hand slam over two defenders, and Battie's string of offensive rebounds helped Wichita State establish an early presence inside.
Giles began asserting himself midway through the half, scoring from all three levels as the Shockers rattled off a 12-0 run to turn a tight game into a double-digit cushion. His fast-break layup off a steal at the 2:04 mark capped the surge and gave Wichita State its largest first-half lead at 12.
The Mean Green answered with late buckets, but Wichita State closed the half strong, getting a driving layup from Dre Kindell at the buzzer to carry a 37-27 advantage into intermission.
The Shockers wasted little time stretching the lead. Giles scored seven straight points early in the half, including a pull-up three in transition, as Wichita State pushed the margin to 14. Defensive pressure fueled the run, forcing turnovers that led directly to points at the other end.
North Texas cut the deficit to 12 on multiple occasions behind David Terrell Jr. and Je'Shawn Stevenson, but each push was met with timely answers. Giles' step-back three at the 13:50 mark extended the lead to 17 — the largest of the afternoon — and swung momentum firmly back to the home side.
The Mean Green continued to battle, trimming the score to single digits late, but Wichita State remained composed at the free throw line down the stretch. Boyd and Michael Gray Jr. combined to go 5-of-6 at the stripe in the final minute to seal the win.
Up Next
Wichita State begins a two-game Florida road trip on Thursday, Jan. 15 at Florida Atlantic. Tip is set for 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2.