Murray State Defeated Wichita State in Exhibition
The Shockers fell 93-87 to the Racers at Charles Koch Arena after leading at halftime.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Basketball
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Wichita State lost an exhibition basketball game to Murray State with a final score of 93-87. The Shockers held a 37-36 lead at the halftime break before being outscored in the second half.
Why it matters
This exhibition match served as a key preseason test for Wichita State as the team prepares to integrate its roster before the official season opener.
Murray State dominated the second half with 57 points, shooting 52% from the field and hitting 6-of-9 three-point attempts. Dillon Battie paced Wichita State with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
The players
Wichita State
The Wichita State Shockers are a college basketball team representing Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas.
Murray State
Murray State University competes as a collegiate basketball program and is located in Murray, Kentucky.
Dillon Battie
Dillon Battie is a player for the Wichita State men's basketball team who led his squad in scoring and rebounding during the contest.
Jahari Long
Jahari Long is a member of the Wichita State men's basketball roster who contributed 17 points in the exhibition game.
The details
Despite a balanced effort from Wichita State that saw Jahari Long score 17 points and Bryce Heard add 10, the team could not overcome the second-half surge from the Racers. Murray State was led by Roman Domon, who contributed 17 points, and Brayden Short, who added 16.
Timeline
The game took place at Charles Koch Arena on October 7, 2026.
Wichita State begins its regular season on November 4, 2026.
The Big Picture
This exhibition game follows the established pattern of early-season tune-up contests used to refine team rotations before conference play.
Dillon Battie recording a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds provides a positive baseline for his production expectations in the upcoming season. The team must address defensive lapses that allowed 57 second-half points before the official opener.
The takeaway
Preseason exhibitions are essential for coaching staffs to evaluate player performance under game conditions against external opponents. Identifying defensive vulnerabilities during these periods allows teams to make tactical adjustments before games affect official win-loss records.
What happens next
Wichita State is scheduled to play two additional exhibition games before the team begins the regular season against California State University Northridge on November 4, 2026.
Further reading
For more news on the team, visit Basketball.
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