In each of its losses this season, Wichita State basketball has found itself so narrowly within the margins that a combined 28 points separated those seven games. 

That trend, frustratingly, changed Thursday night.

For the first time all year, the Shockers looked outmatched from start to finish. Even in mid-November, when they surrendered 15 straight makes to Colorado State, WSU still reeled that game within two possessions. 

Not against Florida Atlantic. The Shockers were blown out in an 85-67 loss inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena, their most lopsided defeat of the season and worst in over a year.

In every previous setback though, WSU (10-8, 2-3 American) could at least lean on senior star Kenyon Giles, whose lowest output in those games was 13 points. But he struggled all night against an Owls (12-6, 4-1) defense that did a diligent scouting report, holding the scoring dynamo to a season-low two points on 1-of-5 shooting.

And with Giles in the back seat, the rest of the roster couldn’t compensate. The Shockers shot 40% from the field and 27% for three, while FAU blitzed them for a 56% clip that produced four double-digit scorers. Couple that with nine blocks, and WSU simply ran into a test they couldn’t match.

FAU played at a pace the Shockers couldn’t keep up with either. The Owls generated 1.25 points per possession, and their defense held WSU stagnant at just 0.985 PPP. They also forced 12 turnovers, turning them into 17 points.

“When you’re bad defensively, you can’t finish offensively,” WSU coach Paul Mills said in his post-game radio show. “That snowball just got rolling, and led to a really bad night.”

Will Berg led the way for the Shockers, scoring a team-high 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting. The junior center also added eight rebounds and two blocks.

Junior guard Dre Kindell and senior forward Karon Boyd tacked on 12 and 10 points, respectively, but they and Berg were most of WSU’s production. The eight other players who checked into the game combined for 31 points.

The Shockers’ struggles showed early, which allowed FAU to dictate both ends of the court. 

A 1-for-9 start and a 6-0 Owls run put them in an early hole, trailing 10-2. WSU’s first two shot attempts were swatted, and so were four of its first nine. 

The Shockers briefly cut the deficit to four on two occasions — 10-6, 13-9 — but could never manage to tie or take the lead. Another cold spell allowed the Owls to stretch the margin to 14, blowing the game open at 27-13.

WSU made another push by the end of the first half, trimming the gap to seven, but FAU steadied itself and carried a 12-point advantage at the break, 37-25.

With their backs against the wall and another chance to pull off a second-half comeback, the Shockers just could never find the spark they needed.

Another flat start to begin the final 20 minutes plus the Owls converting on eight of their first 10 attempts closed the door before WSU could even peek through. FAU opened up a 60-32 lead during that time, which felt like the dagger less than 28 minutes into the game.

The biggest drama from then on was for the Shockers to avoid their second-worst loss since joining the American.

For WSU, it can still salvage a statement conference win while in the Sunshine State when it faces South Florida in Tampa on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Bulls are 11-6 with the second-best record in the league at 3-1, but the Shockers have won the previous two meetings.

Box score breakdown

WSU — 25; 42 — 67

FAU — 37; 48 — 85

Leaders

Scoring — WSU: Will Berg (14), Dre Kindell (12), Karon Boyd (10). FAU: Kanaan Carlyle (18), Isaiah Elohim (18), Devin Williams (14), Xander Pintelon (11).

Rebounds — WSU: Noah Hill (10), Will Berg (8), Dre Kindell (4). FAU: Devin Williams (10), Josiah Parker (6), Devin Vanterpool (5), Maxim Logue (5).

Assists — WSU: Dre Kindell (4), Dillon Battie (2), Karon Boyd (2), Mike Gray Jr. (2). FAU: Niccolo Moretti (8), Josiah Parker (4), Devin Vanterpool (3), Kanaan Carlyle (3).