Wichita State Routes Friends University 113-60
The Shockers cruised past the NAIA program at Charles Koch Arena in a nonconference matchup between two Wichita schools.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Basketball
Wichita State defeated Friends University 113-60 on Wednesday night at Charles Koch Arena. The result extended the Shockers' dominance over the Falcons, who last beat Wichita State in 1940.
Why it matters
The lopsided win gave Wichita State a comfortable nonconference result against a local rival program. The matchup also highlighted the ties between the two Wichita programs, as Friends' first-year coach Nick Jones previously spent eight seasons on Wichita State's staff.
Wichita State won 113-60, outscoring Friends by 53 points in a game played at Charles Koch Arena. It was the third time Friends has been on the Shockers' nonconference schedule during Paul Mills' tenure, and the program's last win over Friends came in 1940.
The players
Wichita State University
A NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas, whose men's basketball program competes in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Friends University
A private NAIA university in Wichita, Kansas, whose athletic teams compete in the NAIA ranks.
Nick Jones
The first-year head coach of Friends University who previously spent eight seasons as an assistant coach at Wichita State.
The details
Wichita State, a Division I program, hosted NAIA-affiliated Friends University at Charles Koch Arena, scoring 113 points in the rout. Friends is led by first-year head coach Nick Jones, who spent eight seasons as an assistant under Gregg Marshall and Isaac Brown, and whose staff includes Kellen Marshall, son of former Shockers coach Gregg Marshall.
Timeline
1940: Wichita State last lost to Friends University.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026: Wichita State defeated Friends University 113-60 at Charles Koch Arena.
Season Trajectory
The rout continues Wichita State's pattern of filling its early nonconference slate with lopsided home wins under Paul Mills. It offers little signal about the Shockers' standing in the Missouri Valley race, which will be shaped by conference play.
For Shockers fans, the game was a routine nonconference tune-up with no bearing on standings yet. Fantasy managers tracking Wichita State's rotation can expect the margin to have given reserves extended minutes, though the source does not confirm individual player usage.
The takeaway
Lopsided nonconference wins rarely change a season's arc, but they show how a program handles a clear mismatch. Watch how Wichita State translates this early-season control into conference play.
Further reading
For more on the local college game, see Basketball coverage across the region.
