The Wichita State Shockers, ranked 87th in the NET rankings, pulled off a stunning 81-77 upset over the No. 52 NET-ranked Tulsa Golden Hurricane, with Kenyon Giles leading the charge with 31 points and 5 rebounds. This victory marked a significant Quad 2 win for Wichita State, improving their record to 16-10. The Shockers' 46-point second-half performance was the difference-maker, as they overcame a 41-35 halftime deficit to secure the 4-point win.
Kenyon Giles' 31 Points Mark His 5th 30-Point Game of the Season
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane came out strong, taking a 41-35 lead into halftime, with Tylen Riley scoring 12 of his 21 points in the first half. However, the Wichita State Shockers regrouped and outscored Tulsa 46-36 in the second half, with Giles scoring 19 of his 31 points after the break. The Shockers' Will Berg also made significant contributions, scoring 12 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. At one point, Wichita State went on a 10-2 run, capped off by a Giles three-pointer, to take a 65-60 lead with 7:35 remaining. Tulsa fought back, but the Shockers held on for the 81-77 win, despite being outrebounded 34-29.
Kenyon Giles was the standout performer for the Wichita State Shockers, scoring 31 points on 11-18 shooting, including 3-6 from beyond the arc. Dillon Battie added 13 points, while Will Berg chipped in with 12 points and 7 rebounds. For the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, Tylen Riley led the way with 21 points, followed by Miles Barnstable's 19 points and 7 rebounds. Jaylen Lawal also contributed 10 points for Tulsa. The Shockers' balanced attack, with three players scoring in double figures, was too much for the Golden Hurricane to handle.
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The Wichita State Shockers shot 49.1% from the field, including 38.5% from three-point range, while the Tulsa Golden Hurricane shot 45.8% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. The Shockers also committed 12 turnovers, compared to Tulsa's 15, and scored 14 points off those turnovers. Wichita State's 46 second-half points were the most they've scored in a half since their 85-73 win over East Carolina on January 21, where they scored 48 points in the second half.
The CHD Scout prediction model incorrectly predicted a Tulsa Golden Hurricane win by a margin of 0.1 points, with a predicted score of 76-76. However, the actual result saw the Wichita State Shockers emerge victorious, 81-77. This upset win highlights the model's limitations in accounting for factors like team momentum and player performances on a given night. The model's predicted score and margin were off by 5 points, demonstrating the unpredictability of college basketball.
This Quad 2 win for the Wichita State Shockers could have real consequences for their tournament resume, as they improved their record to 16-10. The loss, on the other hand, drops the Tulsa Golden Hurricane to 20-6, but they still maintain a strong NET ranking of 52. As a Quad 2 game, this win will be heavily weighted in the Shockers' resume, potentially boosting their chances of making the tournament. With a current NET ranking of 87, Wichita State want to build on this momentum and secure more quality wins to strengthen their tournament case.
The Wichita State Shockers want to carry this momentum into their next game against the SMU Mustangs on February 18, while the Tulsa Golden Hurricane will face the Houston Cougars on February 19. Both teams will be seeking to build on their current records, with the Shockers aiming to climb the NET rankings and the Golden Hurricane looking to bounce back from this upset loss.