NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — Dillon Battie scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and Karon Boyd added 18 points and 11 boards to lead Wichita State to a wire-to-wire 75-61 victory over Tulane in an American Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Sunday at Devlin Fieldhouse.

The Shockers, who never trailed, improved to 15-9 overall. Tulane fell to 13-10.

Wichita State established control from the opening tip, starting the game on a 10-2 run. Battie set the tone early, scoring the game’s first basket on a layup just 33 seconds in. The Shockers’ defense was equally impactful, forcing four Tulane turnovers in the first four minutes and limiting the Green Wave to just one field goal in that span.

The Shockers built a double-digit lead midway through the first half and maintained a comfortable margin, taking a 31-26 advantage into halftime. Tulane struggled mightily from the field in the opening period, shooting just 29% and making only one of its nine attempts from three-point range.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Every time Tulane threatened to cut the deficit to single digits, Wichita State had an answer, often from Battie or Boyd. A three-pointer from Boyd, assisted by Michael Gray, pushed the lead back to 12 at 38-26 early in the half. When Rowan Brumbaugh’s free throws brought Tulane within 42-36 with just over 12 minutes to play, Battie responded with a layup and Brian Amuneke followed with a three-pointer to spark a 7-0 run that stretched the lead to 49-36 and effectively sealed the game.

The most important sequence came with just under 10 minutes remaining and Wichita State leading 53-42. Following a Tulane turnover, the Shockers worked the ball to Amuneke for another three-pointer. On the ensuing possession, a frustrated Tulane bench was assessed a technical foul. Dre Kindell made one of the two free throws, and the Shockers retained possession, leading to a layup by TJ Williams. The five-point trip extended the lead to 59-42, putting the game out of reach.

Wichita State dominated the interior, outrebounding Tulane 45-30 and pulling down 13 offensive rebounds to Tulane’s four. The Shockers scored 40 points in the paint and held a 19-6 advantage in second-chance points. While their shooting was not exceptional at 46% from the field, it far surpassed Tulane’s anemic 35.8%. The Green Wave’s offensive woes were epitomized by a 3-for-17 performance from beyond the arc.

Battie, the game’s top star, was efficient and relentless inside, making nine of his 14 field goal attempts. His 19-point, nine-rebound effort marked a significant bounce-back after scoring a combined seven points in his previous two games. Boyd complemented him with a double-double, hitting four three-pointers and contributing three assists and a block.

For Tulane, Rowan Brumbaugh led the way with 17 points and six rebounds. Tyler Ringgold added 13 points, and Luke Rasmussen scored eight. The Green Wave kept the game from becoming a complete blowout by converting 20 of 24 free throws, but their inability to generate consistent offense elsewhere proved fatal.

Wichita State’s defense was a constant, recording nine steals and four blocks while forcing 14 Tulane turnovers. The Shockers also shared the ball effectively, finishing with nine assists on 29 made baskets.

The win moves Wichita State above .500 in conference play and provides momentum heading into a key homestand. The Shockers will host South Florida on Wednesday night. Tulane, which was coming off a road win at Memphis, looks to regroup when it hosts Temple on Wednesday.