Wichita State faces East Carolina tonight in Greenville, North Carolina, seeking to maintain its position among the American Athletic Conference’s top teams. The Shockers (16-10, 8-5) and Pirates (9-16, 4-8) tip off at 6:00 p.m. CDT, with coverage on ESPN+ and KEYN 103.7 FM.
This marks the second meeting between the two programs this season, after Wichita State defeated East Carolina a month ago in Wichita. The Shockers are currently tied for second place in the American standings with Tulsa, both boasting 8-5 conference records. Five teams are within one game of each other in the loss column.
Wichita State has demonstrated a knack for close games this season, with seven of its ten losses coming by six points or fewer. However, the team has also shown resilience, securing eight wins in American play when trailing by 10 or more points, including two comebacks from deficits of 13 or greater.
A key component of the Shockers’ success has been their dominance on the offensive glass. Wichita State ranks fifth nationally in offensive rebounds per game at 14.7, a figure that would be a school record. They have recorded 10 or more offensive rebounds in 20 consecutive games, a streak that currently leads the nation.
Kenyon Giles has emerged as a consistent scoring threat for Wichita State, reaching double figures in 23 of 26 games this season. He has 12 games with 20 or more points and two with 30 or more, joining an exclusive group of Shockers since 2000 to achieve multiple 30-point performances in a single season. Giles is averaging 18.6 points per game, the highest by a Shocker since Jason Perez in 2000 and ranks third in the American in scoring. He also ranks 15th nationally in total three-pointers made with 85.
Dillon Battie has also been a recent contributor, averaging 10.7 points per game over his last three contests, including a career-high 19 points against Tulane. Will Berg has also been impactful, recording career highs in rebounds (15) and blocks (4) at USF.
East Carolina, led by fourth-year head coach Michael Schwartz, is looking to improve its standing in the American Conference. The Pirates are currently 9-16 overall and 4-8 in league play. Jordan Riley leads East Carolina in scoring, averaging 23.0 points per game, and Giovanni Emejuru contributes 13.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
The series between Wichita State and East Carolina began in 2017 when the Shockers joined the American Athletic Conference. Wichita State holds an 8-4 advantage including a 3-1 record in Greenville. However, East Carolina has won four of the last five meetings, including a 79-69 upset in Wichita two years ago.
Following tonight’s game, Wichita State will host Temple on February 21st.
