WICHITA, Kan. (Interstat) — Kenyon Giles scored 27 points to lead Wichita State to a 69-57 victory over Temple in a men’s college basketball game Saturday at Charles Koch Arena. The Shockers (18-10, American Athletic) led 33-27 at halftime and maintained control throughout the second half. Giles keyed the win, hitting six 3-pointers. Emmanuel Okorafor added 13 points for Wichita State. Aiden Tobiason scored 18 points and Derrian Ford added 15 for the Owls (15-11), who struggled offensively, shooting 36.4% from the field. Wichita State capitalized at the free-throw line, making 21 of 29 attempts. A crowd of 8,094 watched the Shockers sweep the regular-season series.

WICHITA, Kan. (Interstat) — Kenyon Giles scored 27 points and Wichita State used a decisive second-half surge to pull away from Temple for a 69-57 victory in American Athletic Conference men’s basketball on Saturday at Charles Koch Arena. A crowd of 8,094 saw the Shockers improve to 18-10 overall, while the Owls dropped to 15-11. The game was a defensive struggle for long stretches, with both teams matching each other’s physicality. The contest was tied at 36 early in the second half before Wichita State engineered the game’s defining run. Sparked by Giles, who hit three of his six 3-pointers after halftime, the Shockers unleashed a 16-4 burst over a five-minute span. The surge turned a one-point game into a 52-40 advantage with just over 10 minutes remaining, a margin Temple would not seriously threaten again. Giles, a 5-foot-10 guard from Chesapeake, Virginia, was the catalyst, playing 37 minutes and shooting 9 for 19 from the field. His backcourt partner, TJ Williams of Wichita, Kansas, added 12 points and two assists. The inside presence was provided by Emmanuel Okorafor, a 6-foot-10 forward from Abia, Nigeria, who posted 13 points and nine rebounds, relentlessly attacking the offensive glass. Temple, which has now lost three straight, was led by Aiden Tobiason’s 18 points. The 6-foot-5 wing from Wilmington, Delaware, fought through foul trouble to log 37 minutes. Derrian Ford added 15 points for the Owls, and Gavin Griffiths contributed nine points and two blocks. The first half was a grinding affair, featuring eight ties and five lead changes. Wichita State held a narrow 33-27 edge at the break, largely due to a 15-6 advantage in free throw attempts. The Shockers maintained that aggressive approach after halftime, finishing the game 21 of 29 from the foul line, while Temple was just 12 of 19. While the final score showed a 12-point margin, the game was ultimately decided by efficiency. Both teams had 64 possessions, but Wichita State’s offense proved far more potent, scoring at a rate of 108.2 points per 100 possessions compared to Temple’s 89.0. The Shockers also capitalized on Temple’s mistakes, scoring nine points off 10 Owl turnovers, and won the battle on the offensive boards 10-6, leading to 11 second-chance points. Defensively, Wichita State limited Temple to 36.4% shooting from the field. The Owls’ offense, which managed only six assists, often devolved into isolation plays against a stout Shocker defense. Temple’s 24 points in the paint were only four more than Wichita State’s, underscoring the difficulty the visitors had generating consistent interior offense. The victory keeps Wichita State in the upper tier of the American Athletic Conference as the regular season enters its final weeks. The Shockers, who were projected as heavy favorites by advanced metrics pregame, next travel to face Memphis on Thursday. Temple, meanwhile, looks to halt its skid when it visits Florida Atlantic on Wednesday. The Owls’ recent struggles have been defined by narrow losses, with four of their last five defeats coming by five points or fewer, but they were unable to keep this one within striking distance down the stretch.

Preview: Temple Owls at Wichita State Shockers WICHITA, Kan. (Interstat) — Two American Athletic Conference teams on the NCAA tournament bubble will look to bolster their resumes when the Temple Owls visit the Wichita State Shockers on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Charles Koch Arena. Temple (15-10, 5-7 AAC) arrives having lost two straight close games, falling 76-71 to UAB and 65-62 to North Texas last week. The Owls have struggled to find consistent form, alternating wins and losses over their last six contests. Guard Jordan Mason will be a focal point after a 37-minute, 18-point performance in the loss to UAB. Mason has been a key offensive engine, scoring 15 or more points in four of his last seven games. Wichita State (17-10, 8-5) is coming off a marathon 92-89 double-overtime road victory at East Carolina, a win that snapped a brief two-game skid. The Shockers have been strong at home this season, winning three of their last four in Wichita. Sophomore guard TJ Williams is coming off a career-high 27 points in the win over ECU, showcasing the explosive scoring potential he provides off the bench. The matchup pits Temple’s search for a quality road win against Wichita State’s aim to protect its home court and solidify its standing in the AAC. The Owls will need to contain a balanced Shockers attack that saw Kenyon Giles score 24 and Will Berg add 12 in the double-OT thriller. For Temple, support for Mason must come from players like Derrian Ford, who had 17 points against UAB. This game represents a critical pivot point for both teams’ postseason aspirations. A win for Wichita State would strengthen its case for an at-large bid, while Temple desperately needs a signature conference road victory to keep its hopes alive. Following this game, Temple travels to face Florida Atlantic on Feb. 25. Wichita State begins a two-game road trip at Memphis on Feb. 26. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST.