Wichita State basketball breaks 3-point school record in Loyola-Chicago win
Wichita State turned a rivalry renewal into a record-breaking showcase Thursday night at Koch Arena.
The Shockers torched Loyola-Chicago for a 95-74 win behind a barrage of 3-pointers, setting the school record with 16 makes beyond the arc and shooting a blistering 50% from beyond the arc.
Kenyon Giles led five players in double figures with 24 points, while Mike Gray Jr., Will Berg, Dre Kindell and Karon Boyd each delivered efficient, balanced performances in one of WSU’s most complete outings of the Paul Mills era. The Shockers shot 48.5% from the field and committed just two turnovers in a 63-possession game.
With the win, Wichita State moved to 3–0 for the third straight season under Mills, while the Ramblers slipped to 1–3. It was also WSU’s 12th straight win over Loyola-Chicago in the series.
1. Kenyon Giles puts on a sharpshooting display for the record books
Thursday night belonged to Kenyon Giles.
The senior guard put on one of the more memorable shooting displays at Koch Arena, becoming just the ninth Shocker ever to make at least seven 3-pointers in a game. Giles finished 7 of 8 from deep and scored a game-high 24 points, repeatedly drilling shots from well behind the arc and stretching Loyola’s defense to its breaking point.
His shooting wasn’t just impressive, it was demoralizing for the opponent. That was never more evident than early in the second half when Loyola briefly trimmed the deficit to 55-48. What followed was the knockout punch: a 15-0 WSU run powered by three straight 3-pointers from Giles.
The final dagger came in transition after Boyd jumped a passing lane for a steal. With the crowd rising, Giles pushed the ball and there was no doubt where he was headed. Once he spotted up beyond the arc, he rose from deep with no hesitation and canned another. The swish sent Koch Arena into a frenzy and forced a shellshocked Loyola team to call a timeout as WSU’s lead ballooned to 70-48.
WSU finished with 16 made 3-pointers, its most in school history, and looked every bit like a team discovering a new offensive identity to match its defensive backbone.
On top of Giles’ big night from deep, Mike Gray Jr. knocked down five triples and Dre Kindell and Karon Boyd both canned a pair.
2. Wichita State electrifies in the first half once again
The Shockers delivered one of their most electric opening bursts in recent memory, overwhelming Loyola-Chicago and turning Koch Arena into a showcase of two-way dominance.
WSU didn’t just start fast, it blitzed the Ramblers. Before the second media timeout, WSU had raced out to a 27-12 lead, playing with a tempo, confidence and physicality that immediately set the tone for the night.
The offensive fireworks came early and often. WSU, long searching for consistent perimeter shooting, looked transformed as Mike Gray Jr. and Kenyon Giles confidently launched and buried deep 3-pointers. By halftime, WSU was 8 of 18 beyond the arc and led 50-36, marking the third straight half with 50 or more points.
But just as impressive was how complete the performance felt early. On the defensive end, the Shockers dictated terms. They rebounded with force, rotated with precision and repeatedly forced the Ramblers into rushed shots and turnovers. Loyola-Chicago looked genuinely uncomfortable as WSU’s length and activity shut down driving lanes and disrupted rhythm.
After being overwhelmed early, the Ramblers recovered to trim the deficit to nine points at one point in the second half. But a 9-0 run by WSU late in the first half, triggered by five points from Karon Boyd, stretched the lead to 18 points and put Loyola-Chicago back on its heels.
3. Low turnover count propelling Wichita State offense
WSU didn’t crack 100 points this time, but the Shockers delivered an even more efficient performance on Thursday.
In a game with just 63 possessions, WSU poured in 95 points for an eye-popping 1.51 points per possession — compared to the 1.36 points per possession scored in the 105-62 win over Prairie View A&M.
The shooting numbers jump off the stat sheet, but it’s the distribution and decision-making that tell the real story of WSU’s growth. The Shockers finished with 17 assists and just two turnovers, a staggering ratio for a team that has battled inconsistency in both categories in the past.
This version of the WSU offense is humming because it’s clean. Crisp ball movement, confident shooters and smarter possessions have transformed the attack into one of elite efficiency. Through a 3-0 start, WSU now ranks 31st in the country in limiting turnover percentage.
This story was originally published November 13, 2025 at 8:30 PM.
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