Wichita State basketball beats UNC Asheville: Three keys to the home victory
The third season of Paul Mills at Wichita State began with a victory on Tuesday night, as the Shockers pulled away late for a convincing 75-58 win over UNC Asheville at Koch Arena.
Senior guard Kenyon Giles led the way with 20 points and four steals, while Karon Boyd notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Big man Will Berg added eight points, eight rebounds and three blocks and Dre Kindell provided a spark off the bench with 11 points and five assists.
The Shockers played shorthanded, as projected starting power forward Jaret Valencia (minor groin issue) was unavailable. Afterward, Mills labeled Valencia as “day-to-day” ahead of Saturday’s second game.
Here are three takeaways from the season-opening win:
1. The decisive stretch in the second half
For much of the second half, Wichita State controlled the pace but couldn’t quite shake Asheville. When Kameron Taylor drilled a 3-pointer to trim the margin to 54-51 with just over seven minutes left, it was the first real test of composure for Mills’ retooled lineup.
The Shockers responded with toughness and energy. Emmanuel Okorafor’s offensive rebound and putback sparked a 17-5 closing run, punctuated by his high-flying block that led to a Giles pull-up jumper in transition. Okorafor added two clutch free throws moments later, and Giles delivered the dagger with a contested mid-range jumper plus the foul to push the lead to nine with just over three minutes left.
By the time T.J. Williams and Karon Boyd added back-to-back plays at the rim, the game had flipped from a one-possession battle to a 71-56 runaway. The late 15-2 run showed resilience and poise — qualities that could define this team early in the season.
For the 12 newcomers, it was the first time they’ve heard Koch Arena come alive.
“It was perfect,” Giles said.
“Coming from JUCO, that environment was crazy,” Kindell added. “We were just trying to live in the moment.”
2. WSU dominates the glass after halftime
Rebounding was a point of emphasis entering the night, and the Shockers backed it up — eventually. After allowing Asheville to hang around in the first half with nearly identical numbers on the glass, WSU took full control in the second.
The Shockers posted a 24-11 rebounding advantage after halftime and finished the night with a 46-31 edge overall, including 21 offensive rebounds that led to 27 second-chance points. To put that in perspective, WSU grabbed more offensive rebounds (21) than Asheville had defensive boards (20).
“I was really pleased with the guys at halftime,” Mills said of the change in rebounding. “They understood what needed to be done. You can understand what needs to be done, but you still have to go and do it.”
Boyd and Dillon Battie were relentless, combining for 18 rebounds, while Berg and Okorafor cleaned up inside. The turnaround on the glass helped WSU generate consistent extra possessions and wear down the Bulldogs, who managed only four second-chance points in the second half.
“They were playing volleyball on the backboard,” UNC Asheville coach Mike Morrell said. “If you talked to anybody about them, read anything about them, you knew they were making that an emphasis. I thought that was the biggest turning point of the game because when you’re only playing eight the way we were, when they keep getting offensive rebound after offensive rebound, it makes it really tough.”
3. Freshman Noah Hill makes a steady debut
The game offered an unexpected glimpse of WSU’s depth at center. With Berg and Okorafor both in early foul trouble, true freshman Noah Hill was thrust into action less than seven minutes into his first college game — and the moment didn’t look too big for him.
Hill’s stat line (2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks in 13 minutes) might not pop, but his presence mattered. His length and bounce helped WSU survive crucial stretches of the first half, especially when Asheville tried to attack the rim.
The Shockers played the Bulldogs even during Hill’s first-half minutes, which Mills will take every time from his third-string big man.
“I was pretty worried there when we put Noah in,” Mills said. “For a kid his age and in this environment, he was phenomenal.”
All told, the three-man center rotation — Hill, Berg and Okorafor — combined for 16 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks, setting a solid defensive tone for the opener.
What’s next for the Shockers
Wichita State (1-0) will look to build on its first win when it returns to action at 6 p.m. Saturday against Prairie View A&M at Koch Arena.
The Panthers (1-0) are scheduled to play another non-Division-I opponent Wednesday before traveling to Wichita. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
This story was originally published November 4, 2025 at 8:35 PM.
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