Losing almost didn’t feel like an option for Wichita State.

Not on senior day. Not with a chance to lock up the No. 2 seed at the American Conference Championship. Not in front of a season-best 8,163 fans inside Koch Arena for the last home game this season.

Florida Atlantic played “the bad guys” most of Saturday afternoon, never allowing the Shockers any breathing room or chance to seize control of the game for the first 30 minutes. 

It didn’t matter, however. Wichita State rallied behind a rocking Roundhouse for an 11-0 run that had to have shrunk the floor for FAU, and the Shockers eventually ran the Owls out of the gym by 18 points, 88-70.

Wichita State improved to 21-10 and 13-5 in the conference to secure its most regular season wins in six years and a six-game winning streak. FAU dropped to 17-14 and 9-9 in league play.

The Shockers were spearheaded by five double-digit scorers throughout the game, led by a career-high 22 points from sophomore forward Dillon Battie, who missed just one shot the entire game, and grabbed 12 rebounds.

Seniors Emmanuel Okorafor (16 points), Karon Boyd (12) and Kenyon Giles (17) — who were honored before the game — all added to the five-headed attack.

Next up, the Shockers travel to Birmingham, Ala., for the conference tournament, where losing really isn’t an option now.

For now, here are three takeaways from Wichita State’s win on senior day:

WSU and FAU light up first half scoreboard

The teams combined for 84 points and were well above 1.2 points per possession throughout the first half of Saturday’s matinee.

The Shockers, who trailed by as many as six points at one point, eventually clawed out of that hole and took a slim 43-41 lead before the break.

Battie ended the half with a team-high 13 points on marks of 5-for-5 from the floor, 1-for-1 from deep, and 2-for-2 at the foul line. Florida Atlantic was led by 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting from guard Kanaan Carlyle, who hit shots even against tight defense from Wichita State. 

Even though the Owls connected on 54.8% of their shots throughout the period, the Shockers maintained control of the glass, snagging 18 in the half and eight on the offensive end for 14 second-chance points. FAU managed just two second-chance points on four offensive rebounds, and Wichita State pulled down 71.4% of available defensive rebounds.

That physicality in rebounding eventually allowed the Shockers to open up their slim lead at halftime after junior center Will Berg grabbed their second offensive board on one possession for a forceful tip-in layup before the buzzer sounded.

Shockers run away with it during second half rock fight

The final 20 minutes at Koch Arena felt more like a heavyweight title bout than basketball game at times.

That’s because the teams danced and bodied themselves around the court into 10 ties and lead changes until there were 11 minutes, 30 seconds left on the clock.

That’s when Boyd muscled his way for two of his 12 points during the game and later hit a three for five-straight. Battie and Okorafor also scored down low, and Boyd capped off an 11-0 run to go up 71-61. 

Wichita State didn’t allow FAU to hit a field goal the rest of the game.

Giles drilled two 3-pointers, and Battie later slammed a windmill dunk on a fast break that perhaps peaked the decibel levels at the highest they’ve been all season.

All that was left to do after that was run out the clock. And as Giles, Boyd and Okorafor checked up for the last time at the Roundhouse, they were serenaded to cheers and a standing ovation.

What the senior day win means for Wichita State

The win on senior day solidified the Shockers’ position as the No. 2 seed headed into the conference tournament next Wednesday through Sunday.

And even though Tulsa can finish with a better overall record than Wichita State, the Shockers own the tiebreaker because of their series split with South Florida at the beginning of conference play. The Golden Hurricane dropped both of its games this season against the Bulls.

Earning one of the top-two seeds headed into Birmingham, Ala., comes with a premium, as well. 

Wichita State won’t play again until next Saturday in the tournament semifinals — meaning the Shockers will just need two wins in two days to make their first NCAA Tournament since the 2020-21 campaign.