Preview: Wichita State at Charlotte in American Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — Riding a three-game winning streak, the Wichita State Shockers visit the Charlotte 49ers on Saturday in an American Athletic Conference men’s basketball matchup at Halton Arena.

Wichita State (9-5) enters conference play with momentum, coming off a 75-70 road victory at UAB on Wednesday. The Shockers have won five of their last six games.

Charlotte (6-8) looks to rebound from a narrow 76-73 home loss to Temple on Tuesday. The 49ers have struggled for consistency, alternating wins and losses in their last five contests.

A key matchup will feature Wichita State guard Kenyon Giles against Charlotte forward Anton Bonke. Giles is averaging 17 points over his last five games, including a 26-point performance in 40 minutes against UAB. Bonke provides a versatile interior presence for Charlotte, coming off a 20-point game against Temple and averaging 3.2 blocks over his last five outings.

In the Shockers’ latest win, Giles led all scorers with 26 points, while center Will Berg added a near double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds. For Charlotte in its tight loss, Bonke’s 20 points were supplemented by 16 points from guard Arden Conyers.

Wichita State holds a clear advantage in record, but the 49ers are 5-3 at home this season. This game opens the AAC schedule for both teams.

The Shockers’ next game is at home against Rice on Jan. 7. Charlotte travels to face Texas-San Antonio on the same date.

Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Charlotte.