WICHITA, Kan.- The Wichita State men's basketball team opened up its 2007-08 campaign with a 76-63 exhibition win over Arkansas Tech Saturday night in Charles Koch Arena.

Seniors P.J. Couisnard and Matt Braeuer paced the Shockers with 22 and 18 points, respectively, while the Wonder Boys were led by Chad Henderson's 14 points off of the bench.

Both teams got off to slow starts in the first half. Phil Thomasson put the Shockers on the board early, scoring five points in the game's first three minutes. Couisnard capped off a 12-4 run with his first of four three-pointers of the night.

ATU would answer with a quick 7-0 run fueled by a Henderson three-pointer to cut the WSU lead to one, 12-11, with 12:27 to play in the half. The Shockers stretched the lead back to 11, 24-13, behind the perimeter shooting of Couisnard and sophomore Gal Mekel.

Freshman Aaron Ellis connected twice from the floor in the final minutes of the half, giving WSU a 33-21 lead at halftime. The Shockers shot 42 percent from the floor but their fast-paced trapping defense held ATU to just 28 percent shooting, including a paltry 1-for-11 beyond the arc, in the first half.

The second half slowed to a crawl at times, as the two squads combined for 24 fouls resulting in 31 free-throws. The Wonder Boys finished the game 23-for-25 from the line, going 19-for-21 in the second half.

Braeuer got the Shockers rolling offensively connecting on the first of his three three-pointers to put WSU up, 36-23, less than minute into the half. Another Braeuer three-pointer gave the Shockers a 53-36 lead with just over nine minutes to play.

“I thought Matt Braeuer was very good tonight,” said head coach Gregg Marshall. “He was running our stuff well. I thought Phil Thomasson was in excellent position a number of times defensively, took a couple of charges. Those two guys and P.J., the veterans were pretty good.”

ATU cut the lead to 10 three times, but could get no closer as WSU answered each time with a basket. A Thomasson layup gave the Shockers their largest lead of 18, 75-57, with just under a minute to play.

“It was a first game for many of us, including myself, so we obviously had some first game jitters and things we have to improve upon,” Marshall said. “At the same time, I think we did some things pretty good. I enjoyed it, the guys enjoyed it, but obviously we will continue to work to put a better product out there.”

WSU shot 51 percent from the field in the second half, including 6-for-12 behind the arc, to finish at 47 percent for the game. ATU was never able to get into a rhythm offensively, shooting 35 percent from the floor and finishing with 16 turnovers.

The Shockers our-rebounded ATU, 40-26, led by 11 from junior Mantas Griskenas. Junior Wendell Preadom and Mekel each finished with five assists to lead WSU.

“There were a couple of stretches where we had veterans on the floor and things were flowing pretty smoothly,” Couisnard said. “The new players, the new team and the new chemistry that we are working with will only get better by playing together more.”

The Shockers are back in action on Thurs., Nov. 8 as they host Pittsburg State at 7:05 p.m. inside Charles Koch Arena. It will be WSU's final exhibition game before regular season play begins on Tues., Nov. 13 against Arkansas Pine-Bluff.

- Wichita State -