WICHITA, Kan.- The Wichita State (1-0) men's basketball team opened it's regular season with a 71-47 win over Rockhurst (0-1).

Three Shockers reached double-figures lead by junior Sean Ogirri's 12 points. Senior Kyle Wilson and junior P.J. Couisnard each finished with 11 points. Joey Deas led the Hawks with 12 points while John Torson had 11 points.

WSU came out firing early, going on a 10-1 run to start the game. Karon Bradley put the Shockers on the board with a three-pointer from the wing with just under a minute into the game. Wilson capped the run with an old fashioned three-point play with 16:31 to go in the half.

RU did not reach double-figures on the scoreboard until a Jon-Erik Price layup made the score 29-11 with 5:57 left. The Shockers went on a 9-0 run just before the end of the half, as WSU went to the locker room with a 45-21 lead.

The Hawks opened up the second half on an 11-4 run that included three-pointers from Aaron Hill, Torson and Deas. WSU answered with a 16-2 run of its own spurred by a dunk by junior Phil Thomasson. Ogirri and freshman Gal Mekel each connected from behind the arc during the run.

RU finished the game on an 11-2 run for a 71-47 final score. The Shockers shot 47 percent in the game, including a scorching 59 percent in the first half. WSU's defense held the Hawks to 34 percent shooting for the game. The Shockers also forced 18 turnovers and combined for 13 steals.

“Every game helps you because you can learn something from every game you play,” said Couisnard. “Our team identity is defense. I think our defense tonight was great.

“It feels good to come back and to make shots,” Ogirri said. “I missed my first shot, but I stuck with it, and I have great teammates that find me and I'll find them as the season goes on.”

Couisnard also dished out a game-high four assists and two blocks. Wilson led the Shockers with seven rebounds as WSU out-rebounded the Hawks 38-27.

“Any night, anybody can step up and lead us in scoring or rebounding or assists,” Wilson said. “But when we all start playing well, together, we're pretty dominant. And that will just improve as the season goes on.”

The Shockers will be back in action Tues., Nov. 14 against Chicago St. inside Charles Koch Arena.