Wichita State Basketball Defeats Friends 113-60 at Koch Arena

The Wichita State men’s basketball team surged past Friends on Wednesday night, securing a 113-60 victory at Charles Koch Arena that served as a high-octane offensive statement for the program.

The Shockers, now 2-1 on the season, used a record-breaking shooting performance to dismantle the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics squad, marking their highest point total since head coach Paul Mills took over the program in 2023.

The efficiency of the Shocker offense was the story of the evening, as the team hit 17 3-pointers and shot 69.5% from the field. Both figures established new school records.

“I just think that we’re a good shooting team,” Mills said. “I thought the ball just looked good coming out of everybody’s hands. To score 113 points in a 65-possession game, I don’t care who you’re playing, that’s a pretty good number.”

MBB Game Highlights: Wichita State vs. Friends (November 11, 2026) — American Conference

The depth of the roster was on full display during the blowout. Junior guard Bryce Heard was perfect from the floor, finishing with 12 points on a 4-of-4 shooting night that included two successful 3-point attempts. Dillon Battie also found his rhythm, contributing 14 points and five rebounds, including a pair of 3-pointers that suggest he has moved past the shooting struggles he faced last year.

The recovery of fifth-year guard Kenyon Giles provided another layer of optimism. After a difficult 1-of-2 outing from deep during Sunday’s 93-86 loss to No. 21 USC, Giles responded by scoring 19 points in the first half alone against Friends. He finished with four assists and zero turnovers, a display of floor vision that Mills highlighted as critical to the team’s success.

“His creation, just being able to find other people and kind of see what’s happening during the game,” Mills said regarding Giles’ impact. The return of redshirt sophomore TJ Williams added depth to the rotation. After missing the first two games with an injury, Williams logged 12 minutes, recording seven points and a game-high seven rebounds.

The absence of 7-foot-2 redshirt senior center William Berg, who sat out with a knee issue, allowed others to step into the spotlight.

Senior center Cyr Malonga notched his first field goals as a Shocker, while redshirt junior guard Joy Ighovodja delivered a standout performance, shooting 7-of-7 from the field and 5-of-5 from behind the arc to finish with 19 points. Sophomore guard Desmeon Jones also made his debut, adding nine points in his first appearance for the program.

While the lopsided scoreline highlights a talent gap between the programs, the statistical markers—particularly the record-setting field goal percentage—offer a baseline for what this team aims to achieve. The focus now shifts to Saturday’s home game against Austin Peay, where Mills said he’ll be back in WSU’s home game against Austin Peay Saturday night.

For the Shockers, the challenge remains maintaining this level of offensive execution. The team’s ability to integrate healthy starters like Williams while sustaining the production of bench contributors like Ighovodja will be the primary narrative to track as the season progresses.

The Shockers are scheduled to return to Charles Koch Arena on Saturday to face Austin Peay.