KANSAS CITY – Wichita State defeated Saint Louis 88-63 Friday night in the NABC Hall of Fame Classic at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.

The Billikens fall to 2-2 overall, while Wichita State improves to 5-0.

Kalu Anya and Kellen Thames finished with a team-best 15 points apiece. Anya led the way with nine rebounds while Thames had eight. Larry Hughes II finished in double figures with 10 points.

It was a rare off shooting night for Billiken guards Gibson Jimerson and Isaiah Swope, who combined to go 1-of-15 from the arc. Swope did dish out a team-high six assists to go along with his six points, and Jimerson finished with eight points including a 3-pointer and a 5-of-6 performance from the stripe.

SLU went cold in the second half, hitting just 26.7 percent of its shots after shooting better than 50 percent in the first half. 

Wichita State took a three-point lead into halftime, 40-37. SLU had an 8-2 rally that included an Amari McCottry 3-pointer and an emphatic Kellen Thames dunk to put SLU ahead by six at 28-22.

The Shockers responded with a 6-0 to tie it at 28-all before Thames answered with a trey. Wichita State ended the half with an 8-2 spurt to take the lead into halftime.

Wichita State carried its momentum into the second half, opening up with a 9-0 run to take control. The Shockers used a 11-1 push midway through the half to lead by 20, and they never looked back.

The Billikens are back at Chaifetz Arena for their next three. They host Quinnipiac (Monday, Nov. 25) and UMass Lowell (Wednesday, Nov. 27) in the 314 Classic. Jackson State then comes to town on Monday, Dec. 2.