WICHITA, Kan. (Interstat) — Kenyon Giles scored a game-high 20 points and Karon Boyd recorded a double-double as the Wichita State Shockers pulled away in the second half to defeat the UNC Asheville Bulldogs 75-58 in a non-conference men’s basketball season opener for both teams Tuesday night at Charles Koch Arena.

A crowd of 5,366 saw the Shockers use a decisive 41-point second half and a dominant interior presence to secure the victory. After taking a 34-30 lead into halftime, Wichita State steadily built its advantage, ultimately holding the Bulldogs to 28 points after the break.

Giles, a 5-foot-10 guard from Chesapeake, Virginia, was the offensive catalyst for the Shockers, playing 33 minutes and efficiently creating his own shot. He was supported by Boyd, a 6-foot-5 forward from Concord, North Carolina, who tallied 11 points and 10 rebounds in 32 minutes of action. The backcourt duo of Giles and Dre Kindell, who added 11 points and five assists, provided a consistent scoring threat that Asheville struggled to contain.

The Shockers’ offense was fueled by its work in the paint, outscoring the Bulldogs 42 to 30 down low. Wichita State also capitalized on transition opportunities, scoring eight fastbreak points compared to zero for the visiting Bulldogs.

UNC Asheville was led by Toyaz Solomon, a 6-foot-9 forward from Enfield, North Carolina, who finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. DJ Patrick added 13 points in a team-high 40 minutes for the Bulldogs, who fell to 0-1 on the young season.

The game remained competitive through much of the first half. The Shockers seized early momentum with Giles drilling a 3-pointer on the team’s first possession. Asheville responded and kept the score close, with Solomon’s activity on both ends keeping the Bulldogs within striking distance. A 3-pointer from Wichita State’s Boyd just before the halftime buzzer gave the Shockers their four-point cushion at the break.

Wichita State began to create separation early in the second half, using a 7-2 spurt to extend its lead. The Shockers’ defense tightened, forcing difficult shots and converting turnovers into points on the other end. A key sequence midway through the half saw Giles connect on a 3-pointer and then convert a jump shot off a turnover, pushing the lead to 65-58 and effectively stifling any chance of an Asheville comeback.

The Shockers also benefited from a strong performance from their frontcourt. Will Berg, the 7-foot-2 center from Stockholm, Sweden, contributed eight points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots, while Dillon Battie chipped in six points and eight rebounds off the bench.

For UNC Asheville, Justin Wright scored eight points, and Myles Mayfield added seven points and four rebounds. The Bulldogs will look to secure their first win when they travel to face Georgia Southern on Saturday.

Wichita State, now 1-0, is scheduled to host Prairie View A&M on Saturday. According to Interstat’s ELO system, the Shockers entered the game with a 72.70 percent probability to win. Wichita State covered the pregame spread of -6.5, and the total score of 133 fell under the over/under line of 155.5.