Wichita State Secures No. 2 Seed with Senior Day Win Over FAU

Shockers rally in second half to defeat Owls 88-70 on emotional day

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Wichita State men's basketball team secured the No. 2 seed in the American Conference Championship with an 88-70 victory over Florida Atlantic on Senior Day. The Shockers overcame an early deficit, led by a career-high 22 points from sophomore forward Dillon Battie, and got double-digit scoring efforts from seniors Emmanuel Okorafor, Karon Boyd, and Kenyon Giles. The win capped off a 21-10 regular season for Wichita State, who now head to the conference tournament in Birmingham, Alabama.

Why it matters

The Senior Day victory locks up the No. 2 seed for Wichita State in the upcoming American Conference tournament, giving them a premium position and a path to the NCAA Tournament. The Shockers have not made the Big Dance since the 2020-21 season, so this win is a significant step towards returning to the national stage.

The details

Wichita State trailed by as many as six points in the first half, but rallied with an 11-0 run in the second half to pull away from FAU. Sophomore Dillon Battie led the Shockers with a career-high 22 points on 5-of-6 shooting, while seniors Emmanuel Okorafor (16 points), Karon Boyd (12 points), and Kenyon Giles (17 points) all contributed to the balanced scoring attack. Wichita State's defense clamped down in the final 11 minutes, not allowing FAU to hit a single field goal.

  • Wichita State improved to 21-10 and 13-5 in the conference on the season.
  • The Shockers will next travel to Birmingham, Alabama for the American Conference tournament, which runs from March 11-15.

The players

Dillon Battie

A sophomore forward for Wichita State who scored a career-high 22 points on 5-of-6 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds in the win.

Emmanuel Okorafor

A senior guard for Wichita State who scored 16 points in his final home game.

Karon Boyd

A senior guard for Wichita State who scored 12 points, including a key 3-pointer, during the Shockers' second-half run.

Kenyon Giles

A senior guard for Wichita State who scored 17 points, including two 3-pointers, in his last game at Koch Arena.

Kanaan Carlyle

A guard for Florida Atlantic who scored a team-high 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

Wichita State will now turn its attention to the American Conference tournament, where they have secured a bye to the semifinals as the No. 2 seed. The Shockers will only need to win two games in two days to clinch an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Wichita State's Senior Day victory over FAU not only capped off a successful 21-10 regular season, but also locked up a premium position in the upcoming conference tournament. After missing the NCAA Tournament since 2020-21, the Shockers are now well-positioned to return to the Big Dance and make a postseason run.