WICHITA, Kan. — In an impressive display of basketball, Xavier Bell led the way for Wichita State, scoring a season-best 24 points as the Shockers overcame Kansas State with a decisive 84-65 victory on Saturday night.

Bell showcased his shooting skills, making 9 of 17 attempts from the field, which included his only three-point shot, as well as hitting 3 of his 4 free throws. This victory marked an important turnaround for the Shockers (9-3), who ended a five-game losing streak against the Wildcats (6-5).

Wichita State’s strong performance was supported by Corey Washington and Quincy Ballard, both of whom achieved double-doubles in this match. Washington finished the game with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Ballard added 10 points along with 10 rebounds. Justin Hill also made a significant contribution, scoring 13 points during the game.

On the Kansas State side, sophomore Macaleab Rich came off the bench to deliver a standout performance, scoring a career-high of 20 points, with an impressive shooting rate of 8 for 13, including three successful three-pointers. Brendan Hausen also added 13 points, accounting for four three-pointers as well. Together, they shot 7 for 13 from long range, contrasting with their teammates who struggled by managing only 2 of 19 from beyond the arc.

Heading into halftime, Rich’s efforts led the Wildcats to a narrow 33-29 lead. After the break, Wichita State regained control by going ahead 44-41 with a three-pointer from Hill at 15:41. Kansas State’s Rich tied the game at 48 with another three-point shot, but Wichita State responded with back-to-back baskets from Matej Bosnjak to trigger an 8-0 run, extending their lead to 56-48 with just under 10 minutes left on the clock. The Shockers consistently maintained a margin of at least two possessions from that point onward.

In terms of shooting accuracy, Wichita State achieved 51% from the field, hit 4 of 10 from three-point range and were nearly flawless at the charity stripe with 20 out of 22 made free throws. In contrast, Kansas State struggled, finishing the game with a 36% shooting average and converting only 6 of their 15 free throw attempts.

Kansas State will take a break from competition until December 30, when they will face No. 19 Cincinnati in Big 12 Conference action. Meanwhile, Wichita State will look to build on this triumph as they prepare to host Friends University on December 29.