WICHITA STATE (0-2, 0-0 American) vs. MISSOURI STATE (2-0, 0-0 Conference USA)
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026 | 11:00 a.m.
Wichita, Kan. | Charles Koch Arena
TV: ESPN+
Radio: GoShockers.com/Listen with Pat Strathman
Kids Day: Wichita State welcomes students, faculty and staff from Wichita Public Schools and other surrounding elementary and middle schools to cheer on the Shockers.
 
OPENING TIPS
The Shockers are seeking their first win of the 2026-27 season as they are set to face Missouri State in their home opener.
The teams meet for the 92^nd time in program history with Missouri State leading the all-time series 54-37, while Wichita State holds a 21-18 historical advantage in Charles Koch Arena.
Missouri State has won the last four-straight meetings, most recently claiming a 57-66 victory last season in the T-Mobile Center.
Wichita State is coming off an 8-23 season where they missed the American Conference tournament. Head coach Terry Nooner enters his fourth season at the helm, entering the year with a 28-67 record.
The Shockers' 2026-27 roster features 12 new players and zero returners.
After having no true freshmen on the 2025-26 roster, Wichita State signed five players out of high school: Jamari Milton, Rachel Skulsky, Kaylea Lacey, Aaliyah Broadus and Alexis Leyva.
Wichita State brought in two SEC transfers from the portal, adding junior Ma'Riya Vincent from Missouri and senior Clara Koulibaly from Auburn.
The Shockers have one Kansas native on their roster as Lily Ba from Overland Park returns to her home state for her fourth collegiate season.
 
STREAKS AND TRENDS
Ma'Riya Vincent has finished in double figures in both of the first two games.
Mari Milton, the shortest Shocker on the court, has led the team in rebounding in each of the first two games.
 
THE SHOCKS, IN SHORT
After losing all 15 players from the 2025-26 roster to graduation and the transfer portal, Terry Nooner built an entirely new roster of 12 for the 2026-27 season. In recruiting, Nooner looked for players who fit the team's core values, emphasizing the value of team culture with his pillars of character, accountability, respect and effort (C.A.R.E). In the American Conference, many teams' best player plays the 4, and Nooner recruited Vincent to fill that spot for the Shockers. Nooner describes Vincent as a versatile guard who can handle the ball, drive, shoot midrange, post up, draw fouls, rebound and be physical while having the ability to guard 1-through-5. Nooner's freshman class has proven to be even keel and coachable, and they play hard and want to be great. He's found maturity in his young players, while they don't get too high or too low and are giddy for each day. Nooner wants to be hard to scout, getting everybody involved and not relying on one player.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Wichita State women's basketball mounted a second-half comeback but came up just short in an 83-78 road loss to Kansas City Friday evening at Municipal Auditorium. The Shockers (0-2) outscored the Roos 49-36 over the final two quarters after trailing by as many as 20 in the first half. Wichita State cut the margin to three in the closing minute but couldn't complete the comeback. Junior Ma'Riya Vincent led the Shockers with a career-best 17 points, shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the field and 5-for-5 at the free-throw line and adding four rebounds, five assists and three steals before fouling out less than a minute into the fourth quarter. Freshman Mari Milton finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and a game-high nine assists. Senior Clara Koulibaly added 13 points and five rebounds, while freshman Alexis Leyva chipped in 11 points. Kansas City built its advantage early, taking a 16-11 lead after the opening quarter before exploding for 31 points in the second period. The Roos shot 60 percent from the field in the quarter to take a 47-29 lead into halftime. Wichita State began chipping away in the third quarter behind Vincent, who scored 10 points in the period. The Shockers also found success on the offensive glass, collecting eight second-chance points in the quarter. A late basket from Koulibaly brought Wichita State within 11, 64-53, entering the fourth. The Shockers continued to battle in the final period. A Vincent jumper and two Milton free throws helped trim the deficit, while Leyva's three-pointer with 3:33 remaining brought Wichita State within seven, 78-71. Robinson kept the rally alive, scoring on a fast-break layup before knocking down a fast-break three-pointer with 54 seconds remaining to make it a three-point game at 81-78. Kansas City held on down the stretch to secure the five-point victory.
 
SERIES VS. MISSOURI STATE
The Shockers and Bears meet for the 92^nd time in program history with Missouri State leading the series 54-37, while Wichita State holds a 21-18 advantage inside Charles Koch Arena. Missouri State has won the last four-straight meetings, most recently winning 66-57 a season ago in Kansas City.
 
SCOUTING THE BEARS
Led by head coach Beth Cunningham, Missouri State is 2-0 after defeating Southeast Missouri State and Wyoming to start the season. The Bears rank seventh in the nation in rebound margin, outrebounding their opponents by an average of 23 through the first two games. Two Bears are averaging double figure scoring, led by Kaemyn Bekemeier with 13.0 points per game and Hannah Linthacum with 10.5 points per game. Missouri State was picked to win Conference USA in the CUSA Preseason Poll, while Kaemyn Bekemeier was named the CUSA Preseason Player of the Year, and Lainie Douglas and Maiesha Washington were also selected to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team.
 
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
Wichita State's roster features three foreign players, all from Canada, with Rachel Skulsky hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Clara Koulibaly coming from Montreal, Quebec and Klea Kaci joining from Mississauga, Ontario.
 
THEY HAVE HISTORY
Two Shockers reunite as Mari Milton and Kendal Robinson play together again after playing high school basketball together at North Crowley High School.