The final seconds ticked away. Only one gesture felt right in a moment steeped in Wichita State history.

Before the last buzzer echoed through Koch Arena, TJ Williams and Kenyon Giles broke from the celebration, making a pilgrimage to press row. There, they offered a handshake and a dap-up to the man whose voice has carried the Shockers for nearly half a century: Mike Kennedy.

When the scoreboard finally settled at 69-57 in Wichita State’s favor over Temple, the entire team followed suit. Every player and coach stopped to pay homage to Kennedy, who will retire at the end of the season after 46 years calling games, shaking his hand and posing for pictures.

Over the speaker system afterward, Kennedy thanked the fans, players, coaches and alums time and time again.

On a night dedicated to a legendary voice and past champions, the Shockers of the present delivered a surging second half, ensuring their 18th win of the season and 10th in conference play was earned in front of an inspired crowd of 8,094.

“To be able to honor Mike tonight in conjunction with those teams, it really makes it a special night,” third-year head coach Paul Mills said. “I would rather teach third grade than lose a game like tonight and have to live with that.”

Kennedy, the Voice of the Shockers since the 1980-81 season, was honored with a microphone trophy, tribute video, custom jersey and banner in the rafters at halftime during Saturday’s game. The teams that won the Missouri Valley Conference in 1976, 2006, and 2016 celebrated their anniversaries at the Roundhouse, adding to the legacy-filled evening. 

Among the past title winners were former players Ron Baker (2016), Evan Wessel (2016), PJ Cousinard (2006), Cheese Johnson (1976) and former head coach Mark Turgeon (2006).

“We knew we were going to win for him (Kennedy),” senior center Emmanuel Okorafor said. “Having all the alumni come in tonight, we knew it was a big night.”

The Shockers carried a 33-27 advantage with them at halftime, and the celebrations seemed to have lit a fire underneath them. After a Temple 3-pointer opened the second half, Wichita State responded with force. 

Giles sank two from deep to help crack open a 39-32 cushion. Senior guard Mike Gray Jr. launched a triple, extending the lead to nine, 42-33. Williams then muscled his way inside, making it an 11-point advantage with 14 minutes and 37 seconds remaining as the crowd roared its approval. 

For the entire half, the Owls were stifled, never making more than two shots in a row and finishing the game shooting a mere 36.4%.

Wichita State eventually pulled ahead by 18 when Giles drilled his final 3-pointer — a transition dagger delivered precisely at the midway point of the half. From that moment on, Temple couldn’t cut the deficit back under double digits.

“It’s a testament of Mike’s personality and his demeanor,” said Cousinard, who is now an assistant coach. “These kids have only been around him for four months, and they felt like they had to win for him. He pours into them. They see him every day being consistent, being an everyday guy, like we always talk about.

“That just tells you the nature of him and what type of guy he is that the kids wanted to win so badly for him.” 

Giles finished with 27 points on 5-for-10 shooting from deep. Williams pitched in 12 points and five rebounds. 

Okorafor ended with the first double-double of his career: 13 points and 10 rebounds, six of which were on the offensive end. He did it with a bruising force that showed up from the first possession of the game.

The Shockers owned the glass, securing 39 rebounds to Temple’s 28. 

“I think that the team was inspired today,” Turgeon, who coached from 2000-07, said. “Their defense was just tremendous. The crowd was great. It was a big game, because Temple was right there near the top of the league. It’s been a good two weeks for Shocker basketball, so that was a big win for them.”

The victory vaulted Wichita State into sole possession of second place in the American Conference at 10-5 against league opponents, while dropping the Owls into a pack of six teams battling for position with seven or eight wins. Crucially, the win kept the Shockers firmly in the race for a triple-bye at the conference tournament set for March 11-15.

This pivotal win was fueled by an electric second half where Wichita State shot 50% from the floor, all buoyed by the emotionally charged halftime celebrations and a season-high crowd.

“It means a lot, especially celebrating Mike Kennedy,” Giles said. “The fans came out and supported him, and really, this night is all about Mike. We came out and made sure we played hard for him.”

For one night, the eyes fixed on the court for 46 seasons were holding back tears. For one night, past champions carried Wichita State for 40 minutes. 

For one night, it was “all about Mike.”