TULSA, Okla. – Wichita State went toe-to-toe with first place Tulsa for much of the afternoon, but a highly efficient second half by the Golden Hurricane proved decisive as Tulsa pulled away late for a 93-83 victory Sunday afternoon at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.

Wichita State (13-9, 5-4) was outrebounded for just the third time this season, as Tulsa won the rebound battle by nine - a season worst.

Wichita State led by as many as four and traded the lead eight times in a tightly contested first half before Tulsa carried a 43-39 edge into the break.

Tulsa (19-3, 7-2) seized control after halftime behind blistering efficiency, shooting 18-for-25 (72.0 percent) in the second half and finishing the game at 60 percent overall. The Golden Hurricane scored 50 points in the final 20 minutes and built a lead as large as 19 midway through the half.

Five Shockers reached double figures, led by Kenyon Giles' 17. Giles scored all 17 in the first half, and was held scoreless the final 20 minutes. Will Berg scored a career-high 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Dre Kindell and TJ Williams both added 11 points apiece, and Karon Boyd chipped in 10.

Tylen Riley was no match for the Wichita State defense, going for a game-high 30 points on 9-of-11 shooting and 11-of-13 at the free throw line. 

Wichita State settled in quickly and established its presence on the glass, creating early second-chance opportunities through Emmanuel Okorafor and Berg. Although Giles missed an early three, the Shockers remained aggressive offensively and stayed patient against Tulsa's defense. 

Tulsa opened the scoring at the free-throw line, but Wichita State responded with timely perimeter shooting. Boyd knocked down a three to spark the Shockers, and Giles followed with a series of tough makes, including a turnaround jumper and a three-pointer that kept Wichita State within one possession midway through the half.

The game featured eight lead changes and eight ties in the opening period as both teams traded runs. Tulsa briefly stretched the margin behind back-to-back three-pointers from Marcus Barnstable, but Wichita State answered each time, using offensive rebounds and ball movement to stay close.

Late in the half, Wichita State capitalized on transition chances. Giles converted a three with 50 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one, and the Shockers forced consecutive turnovers to keep pressure on Tulsa. However, a pair of late giveaways proved costly, as Tulsa converted a second-chance three in the final seconds to carry a 43-39 lead into the locker room.

Tulsa quickly asserted control coming out of halftime, opening the half with consistent paint touches and high-percentage looks. The Golden Hurricane scored on four of their first five possessions, extending the lead to eight before Wichita State could settle in offensively.

Wichita State showed resilience, answering with a strong sequence that included a Boyd layup and a second-chance finish by Okorafor. The Shockers continued to generate opportunities inside, but Tulsa countered with efficient ball movement and interior scoring to prevent Wichita State from cutting deeply into the margin.

The pivotal stretch came midway through the half, when Tulsa used a 10-2 run fueled by paint scoring and free throws to build its largest lead of the game at 19. Wichita State continued to fight, turning to its bench for energy. Kindell provided a spark with hustle plays and timely scoring, and the Shockers trimmed the deficit to single digits following a second-chance three and multiple trips to the line.

Despite the push, Tulsa consistently responded. Each Wichita State rally was met with a high-percentage basket or a trip to the free-throw line, allowing the Golden Hurricane to maintain control. Tulsa finished the half converting 18 of 25 field-goal attempts, repeatedly capitalizing on interior mismatches and broken defensive sequences.

Up Next
Wichita State is back in the Roundhouse Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. to face Charlotte, who is tied atop the conference standings with Tulsa.