Wichita State Defeats Tulsa in Tight American Conference Matchup

Shockers stay in race for top spot in the American with 81-77 win over rival Tulsa

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Wichita State defeated Tulsa 81-77 on Saturday at Koch Arena in front of a season-high crowd of 7,569 fans. The win keeps the Shockers in the hunt for a top spot in the American Athletic Conference standings, as they moved into a tie for fourth place, just one game back of two second-place teams. Kenyon Giles led the Shockers with 31 points, while Karon Boyd made key plays down the stretch to secure the victory for Wichita State.

Why it matters

This was a crucial conference matchup between two teams desperate for a win to stay in the race for the top of the American standings. Wichita State couldn't afford to fall further back in the standings, while Tulsa was looking to avoid a third straight loss and continue its slide from first place. The win gives the Shockers a chance to make a push for one of the top seeds in the conference tournament.

The details

Tulsa led for most of the game, but Wichita State closed with a 9-2 run to pull out the victory. Karon Boyd, who had struggled in the team's previous game, made several key plays down the stretch, including a go-ahead basket, a blocked shot, and a late free throw to seal the win. Kenyon Giles carried the Shockers' offense with 31 points, taking advantage of Tulsa's defense by driving to the rim.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 15, 2026 at Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas.

The players

Kenyon Giles

A Wichita State player who scored a game-high 31 points to lead the Shockers to victory.

Karon Boyd

A Wichita State player who made several crucial plays in the final minutes to secure the win for the Shockers.

Tylen Riley

A Tulsa player who scored 30 points in the team's previous win over Wichita State, but was held in check in this game.

Paul Mills

The head coach of the Wichita State Shockers.

Will Berg

A Wichita State center who helped the team's offense by setting screens and drawing fouls.

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What they’re saying

“Keep fighting, keep fighting, keep chipping away. We tied the game. And I was like 'This is ours.'”

— Kenyon Giles (ksn.com)

“Karon Boyd plays 38 minutes (vs. USF) and gets one rebound. He's probably heard about it 50 times in the last 48 hours. He was amped to prove himself. Just makes all the plays late.”

— Paul Mills, Wichita State Head Coach (ksn.com)

“They did a really good job of clearing it out. Will and E-Man were talking about 'KG, when you drive, don't float, go all the way to the rim.' I had to do a better job of getting downhill.”

— Kenyon Giles (ksn.com)

What’s next

The Shockers will look to build on this win and continue their push for a top spot in the American Athletic Conference standings. Their next game is on Wednesday, February 19th against another conference rival.

The takeaway

This hard-fought victory over Tulsa showcases the Shockers' resilience and determination to remain in contention for a top seed in the American Athletic Conference tournament. The team's ability to grind out a win in a close, physical game against a conference foe bodes well for their chances of making a deep postseason run.