WICHITA, Kan. – Missed free throws were the story of the game, as Wichita State dropped its first home game of the season in a 61-58 loss to DePaul Saturday in Charles Koch Arena.

The Shockers (6-5) erased a nine-point second-half deficit and had multiple chances in the final minute to tie or take the lead, but DePaul (8-3) sealed the outcome at the free throw line in the closing seconds. Wichita State missed 15 free throws in the game, shooting a season-worst 13-for-28 (46 percent).

Kenyon Giles led Wichita State with 16 points and a season-high tying four steals. Emmanuel Okorafor anchored the interior with a career-high 12 points and eight rebounds in Will Berg's absence. Berg missed the game with a sprained ankle. DePaul was led by CJ Gunn's 18 points and N.J. Benson's 12. Gunn scored 16 of his 18 in the first half when he singlehandedly brought DePaul back from a 16-2 deficit.

Wichita State trailed 36-31 at halftime after DePaul shot 55.6 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, including 6-of-12 from three-point range. Despite the deficit, the Shockers stayed within striking distance thanks to active defense that forced turnovers and created transition opportunities.

The Shockers opened the game with an 11-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from Kenyon Giles and a transition layup from TJ Williams, but DePaul responded with a strong bench spark led by CJ Gunn to take control late in the first half.

Wichita State buckled down in the second half with improved defensive intensity, holding DePaul to 34.6 percent shooting in the second half. A Dre Kindell three-pointer at the 9:40 mark capped a rally that trimmed the margin to four, and another Kindell drive with 8:53 remaining made it a two-point game.

The Shockers continued to chip away, pulling within one at 59-58 on a Williams layup with 39 seconds left. Wichita State then forced a turnover and earned free throws with 15 seconds remaining, but the potential go-ahead free throw attempts from Karon Boyd rimmed out. DePaul capitalized at the other end, knocking down two free throws with 13 seconds left to extend the margin to three.

A final three-point attempt at the buzzer would not fall, sealing the one-possession loss.

DePaul finished the game shooting 51.1 percent from the floor, while Wichita State was held to 37.7 percent shooting. The Shockers owned advantages in second-chance points (10-4) and fast-break points (7-3).