TULSA (20-5, 8-4) at WICHITA STATE (15-9, 7-4)
Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. CDT
Wichita, Kan. | Charles Koch Arena
 
TV: ESPN+ with Mark Ewing & Bob Hull
Radio: KEYN 103.7 FM with Mike Kennedy & Dave Dahl
 

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Pizza Hut Hall of Fame Game - At halftime we'll honor the newest class of the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing players, coaches and contributors who have left a lasting mark on our program.
 

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OPENING TIPS
• The Shockers and Golden Hurricane meet for Round II in Wichita after Tulsa defeated the Shockers just 13 days ago in Tulsa.
• At 7-5, Wichita State is just one game back of second place in the league standings. The Shockers face two of those teams - Tulsa and Temple - in two of the next three games.
• Wichita State is 15-15 all time when playing on Feb. 14.
• Two of Wichita State's seven wins in American play have come when trailing by 13 or more. Five of the seven are by double digits.
• Seven of Wichita State's 10 losses have come by 6 points or fewer.
• Through 25 games Wichita State is one of the top offensive rebounding teams in the country at 14.7 per game - good for 5th nationally. That mark would be the best in a single season in school history.
• Dillon Battie is coming off his best game as a Shocker. He scored a career-high 19 points and tied a career high with 9 rebounds at Tulane. He followed up with a 10-point outing vs. USF.
• Over his last two games he's averaging 14.5 PPG.
• Kenyon Giles has scored 10+ points in 22 of the 25 games this season, including 11 20-point games. Giles matched or scored career high in three of the first four conference games.
• Giles' 11 20-point efforts are tied for 10th most in school history.
• Giles is currently averaging 18.1 PPG for the season, which would be the highest by a Shocker since Markis McDuffie in 2019.
• His 18.1 PPG ranks 3rd in the American. In league play, Giles ranks 3rd at 19.6 PPG with 7 20-point outings in 12 games.
• Giles ranks 9th nationally in total 3-pointers made (84) and 17th in 3-pointers/game (3.36). Xavier Bell led the Shockers in made 3-pointers last season with 35 for the whole year. Giles needed only 12 games to surpass that total this season.
• His 84 made three-pointers are already tied for 3rd most in a single season at Wichita State. He is just 15 shy of tying the program record of 99 set by Colby Rogers in 2024.
• Giles is one of only two players in the country with 80 made three-pointers, 40 assists and 40 steals.
• In American play, Giles ranks second in minutes per game (37.9), barely behind ECU's Jordan Riley (38.5).
• He poured in a career-high 33 points vs. North Texas, the most by a Shocker since Markis McDuffie (34) in 2019.
• Giles has been named to the State Farm College 3-Point Championship Watch List.
• Will Berg recorded career highs in rebounds (15) and blocks (4) at USF. He's the first Shocker to post 15 rebounds and 4 blocks in a game since Garrett Stutz on Feb. 4, 2012.
• Berg ranks 4th in the American in rebounding at 8.2 per game. His 3.5 offensive rebounds per game rank 3rd. In conference games, he's averaging a league best 3.8 offensive rebounds.
• Karon Boyd (62) and Berg (85) account for 39.9% of WSU's offensive rebounds this season.
• Boyd is coming off an 18-point, 11-rebound game at Tulane.
• Four different Shockers have recorded a double-double through the first 25 games: Berg (6), Boyd (4), Michael Gray Jr. (1) and TJ Williams (1).

THE SHOCKS, IN SHORT
• Wichita State returns just 0.9 percent of its scoring from a season ago. The Shockers lost their top nine scorers from 2024-25 and 12 total letterwinners. Wichita State  lost seven players to graduation (Xavier Bell, Harlond Beverly, Matej Bosnjak, Bijan Cortes, Ronnie DeGray III, Justin Hill, AJ McGinnis, Zane Meeks) and four to the transfer portal (Quincy Ballard: Mississippi State, Corey Washington: SMU, Yanis Bamba: Maine, Zion Pipkin: South Plains JC).
• Wichita State brings back only two returners that logged minutes in 2024-25: Joy Ighovodja (87 minutes) and walk-on Henry Thengvall (8 minutes). TJ Williams is the only other returner, but he did not see any action after redshirting.

THE SERIES VS. TULSA
• The Shockers lead the series, 78-67, and have won 21 of the last 28. They're 13-6 in the AAC era.
• Tulsa is WSU's second-most-played opponent behind Drake (151). This is meeting No. 146 in a series that began in 1931. The teams were rivals in the Missouri Valley Conference from 1945-96 before reuniting in the American in 2017.
• Including non-conference games, the teams have met at least once in each of the last 15 seasons going back to 2010-11.
• Since joining the American, Wichita State has faced Tulsa more times than any other foe. This is the 20^th meeting in 9 years.
• Eric Konkol is the 20^th-different Tulsa coach that WSU has faced in the series, while Paul Mills is Wichita State's 16^th.

IN TULSA // TLS, 39-32
• The Shockers have narrowed the gap in recent years, thanks to an 8-7 mark at the Reynolds Center.
• Wichita State is 5-4 in its nine American visits. The Shockers have lost three in a row in Tulsa. Until the 2024 season Wichita State hadn't lost in Tulsa since 2020.

IN WICHITA // WSU, 44-24
• Prior to last year, the Hurricanes last won in Wichita on Dec. 8, 2001. The Shockers had won the last 12 home meetings (10 at CKA, one at INTRUST Bank Arena) until last season.
• Wichita State has won just over two-thirds of the games played inside the Roundhouse (1955-pr.), 38-17.

NEUTRAL SITES // TLS, 4-2
• Five of the six games have come in conference tournament settings, most recently in 2023 when the team squared off in the first round of the AAC tourney.
• WSU's lone victory came in the 1988 MVC Tournament.
• Tulsa picked up a pair of Arch Madness wins in the 1990s and edged the Shockers in the 1958 All-College.

CONNECT THE DOTS
• On Nov. 6, 2018, Eric Konkol led his Louisiana Tech team to a 71-58 upset over the Shockers in Charles Koch Arena. It's the only season-opening loss by a Wichita State team in the past 23 years.

SCOUTING TULSA
• Led by fourth year head coach Eric Konkol, Tulsa enters the matchup at 20-5 and 8-4 in league play.
• Heading into his fourth campaign at Tulsa, Konkol has rebuilt the roster, with 11 newcomers joining four returners from last season's squad. College basketball analytics expert Evan Miyakawa has Tulsa's eight player transfer class as the second-best from the offseason among the American Conference teams.
• In 2024-25, Tulsa posted a 13-20 overall record with six American Conference wins. Two of those league victories came against Wichita State, Tulsa's first regular season sweep of its oldest rival since the 1995-96 season. It was also the first win at Charles Koch Arena for the Golden Hurricane since Dec. 8, 2001, snapping a streak of 12-straight losses on the road.
• The Golden Hurricane were picked to finish 8th in the preseason poll and David Green was named to the second team.
• Tulsa leads the American Conference in point differential (13.3), field goal percentage (48.7), three-point percentage (38.7), threes per game (10.1) and free throw percentage (78.4).
• Tulsa is one of the best teams in the country at the free throw line, ranking sixth in the country at 78.4 percent. The Golden Hurricane have the top three free throw shooters in the American with Miles Barnstable leading the league (92.9), followed by Tylen Riley (87.3) and Myles Rigsby (90.2).
• The Golden Hurricane rank 14th in the country in three-point percentage at 38.7 percent.
• Tulsa's starting five of Barnstable, Tyler Behrend, David Green, Ade Popoola and Riley leads the American Conference lead with a +/- of +123. That ranks them 4th in the country as a group per Evan Miya.
• Green leads the Hurricane scoring attack with 16.6 points per game on 51.9 percent shooting and a 39.7 percent marksmanship from beyond the arc.
• Barnstable is a 42.0 percent three-point shooter (66-for-157). He's scoring 14.8 points per game - good for second on the team.
• Riley rounds out the double figure scorers at 14.5 per game to go with a team-high 100 assists.
• Popoola is another long range threat, converting 41.5 percent of his three-point attempts. He also leads the team in steals with 34.

SOUTH FLORIDA LEFTOVERS
• Wichita State dropped to 12-4 all time vs. South Florida, including 5-2 in Wichita.
• Eight of Wichita State's 10 losses have come by 8 points or fewer.
• The Shockers are 19-11 when playing on Feb. 11.
• Wichita State improved to 11-8 in February under Paul Mills.
• Wichita State fell to 13-2 this season when leading at the half.
• Wichita State was outrebounded for just the fourth time this season. South Florida's 44 rebounds were the most by an opponent this season.
• Wichita State has had 10 or more offensive rebounds in 19 consecutive games.
• Wichita State forced a season-high 18 turnovers.
• Wichita State's 12 steals were the most they've had in a game this season. They've had nine or more in three straight games.
• Wichita State tied a season low with 58 points. Their 25 second half points were also a season low.
• Dillon Battie recorded his second straight game in double figures with 10.
• Kenyon Giles reached double figures for the 22nd time this season and scored 20+ for the 11th time.
• Giles has made at least one three-pointer in 24 of the 25 games and multiple 22 of the 25.
• He tied a career high with 5 steals. He has at least one steal in each of the last 9 games.
• Michael Gray Jr. finished in double figures for the first time since Jan. 21 vs. ECU. His 9 rebounds were one shy of a career high and 6 assists tied a season high.
• Will Berg added his team-leading sixth double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

KG THE BUCKET
• Kenyon Giles has 11 20-point games this season with seven of those coming in the 12 conference games with 26 at UAB, 27 at Charlotte,  a career-high 33 vs. North Texas, 22 at USF, 27 vs. ECU, 23 vs. Charlotte and 24 vs. South Florida. His 33-point outburst vs. the Mean Green marked the most points by a Shocker since Markis McDuffie scored 34 on March 15, 2019 vs. Temple. Giles scored his 33 points on an ultra-efficient 13-of-17 from the field, a perfect 4-of-4 beyond the arc and 3-of-3 at the free throw line. His 13 made field goals were the most since Cleanthony Early made 13 on Jan. 9, 2013 when he dropped a career-high 39 on SIU. Giles was also the first Shocker since Landry Shamet on Nov. 20, 2017 to go 4-of-4 or better from three-point range.
• His 11 games of 20 points or more are tied for 10th most in a single season in program history with Aubrey Sherrod and Paul Guffrovich.
• Giles' 33 points are tied for the 6th most by a player in the American Conference this season, trailing only Memphis' Sincere Parker (40), ECU's Jordan Riley (37), USF's Wes Enis (36), Tulane's Rowan Brumbaugh (35) and Tulsa's David Green (34).
• He started his hot streak when he scored a then career-high tying 26 at UAB in the American Conference opener. Twenty-four of those 26 came from beyond the arc when he knocked down a career-high 8 three-pointers. His 8 three-pointers tied for the second most in a single game in school history, one shy of the school record held by Jason Perez's 9. The last Shocker to make 8 three-pointers in a game was Joe Ragland 14 years ago on Dec. 4, 2011.
• Three days later he poured in a new career-high 27 at Charlotte behind six more three-pointers.
• He had three 20-point games in November, becoming the first Shocker since McDuffie in 2018 to have three 20-point performances in the month of November.

KB 1K
• Karon Boyd eclipsed the 1,000 career point mark on Jan. 3, 2026 at Charlotte. He entered the game 12 points shy and finished the game with 21 - his second 20-point game of the season.
• Boyd now has 1,122 career points with 282 of those coming this season at Wichita State. He joins teammate Kenyon Giles as the two members of the 1,000 point club on this year's team.

VALENCIA SIDELINED FOR SEASON
• Wichita State's depth took a hit right after Christmas when junior forward Jaret Valencia went down with a season ending achilles injury during practice. Prior to the Christmas break, Valencia had been playing his best basketball of the season.

FROM BEHIND THE ARC AND BEYOND
• Kenyon Giles is spearheading the long range bombing. He ranks 9th in the NCAA in total 3-pointers made (84), 17th in three-pointers per game (3.36), 13th in three-point attempts (215) and 60th in three-point percentage (39.1%).
• At the current pace, Giles is on track to break the single season school record for three-pointers made per game (3.36). His 8.56 three-point attempts per game would also be the most in a single season at Wichita State. He's already entered the single season Top 10 list for total three-pointers and is only 15 shy of tying the school record.
• Giles was one of only five players in the country this season to make at least 20 three-pointers through the first five games of the season.
• He is the first Shocker in program history to knock down 20 three-pointers in the first five games of a season.
• To put that into perspective, Giles needed only 12 games to pass the Shockers' three-point leader from a season ago (Xavier Bell - 35).

FASTEST TO 60
• Kenyon Giles became the fastest Shocker to reach 60 made three-pointers in a single season in program history on Jan. 11 vs. North Texas. Giles needed only 17 games to make his 60th three-pointer of the season, three fewer games than former Shocker, Tyson Etienne.

CRASHIN THE OFFENSIVE GLASS
• KenPom ranks Wichita State 9th nationally in offensive rebound percentage at 38.3%. The Shockers average 14.7 offensive rebounds a game, which ranks 5th in the country. At the current rate, that average would easily break the single season program record. The school record was set back in 1995-96 at 13.8 offensive rebounds per game.
• Four Shockers have 30 or more offensive rebounds this season. The quartet of Will Berg, Karon Boyd, TJ Williams and Emmanuel Okorafor make up 62.0 percent of Wichita State's offensive rebounds.

MILESTONE WATCH
• Karon Boyd scored his 1,000th career point on Jan. 3 at Charlotte and played his 100th career game on Nov. 26 vs. Saint Mary's. He needs 7 steals to reach 100 and 49 rebounds to reach 800.
• Kenyon Giles surpassed 1,500 career points on Jan. 7 vs. Rice. He played his 100th career game on Nov. 8 vs. Prairie View A&M. He needs 29 assists to reach 250 career assists.
• Michael Gray Jr. is 35 assists away from 150 for his career. He is 7 games shy of his 100th career game.
• Emmanuel Okorafor needs 10 rebounds to reach 250 for his career.
• Jaret Valencia is 94 points shy of 600 and 7 blocks away from 100 career blocked shots.

ON THIS DATE: FEBRUARY 14
• 1976 – WSU defeated co-leader Southern Illinois, 66-65, at Levitt Arena in front of a sellout crowd (and many more watching on regional television) to take over sole possession of first-place in the Missouri Valley Conference race on their way to an eventual title. Cal Bruton hit two free throws with 19 seconds left to put WSU in front, and the Shockers made one last defensive stand to close it out.
• 2006 – Matt Braeuer sank a corner 3 at the buzzer for a 62-61 OT win over visiting Creighton. It was the signature play from the 2006 regular season, lifting the Shockers into first-place in the MVC standings on the way to their first conference title since 1983 and first NCAA bid since 1988.

A SHOCKER WIN WOULD...                                                                     
... Make them 16-10 this season and 8-5 in American Conference play.
... Move them to 79-67 all time vs. Tulsa and give the Shockers a season split with the Hurricane.
... Make Paul Mills 50-44 as Wichita State head coach.
... Give Mills 156 career coaching victories.
... Run their record to 1,707-1,289 all time.

A SHOCKER LOSS WOULD...                                                                     
... Drop them to 15-11 this season and 7-6 in American Conference play.
... Move them to 78-68 all time vs. Tulsa and give the Hurricane a season sweep in the series.
... Make Paul Mills 49-45 as Wichita State head coach.
... Lower Mills' career record to 155-129.
... Drop their record to 1,706-1,290 all time.

GAME 27: at EAST CAROLINA                                                                     
• Wichita State leads the series vs. the Pirates 8-4 all time, including a 3-1 record in Greenville.
• Wichita State snapped a three-game losing streak to ECU with a 77-60 win in January.
• East Carolina enters the matchup at 8-16 and 3-8 in American Conference play.
• Michael Schwartz is in his fourth season as the head coach at East Carolina, owning a career record of 58-65.