Boxscore

NORMAL, Ill. -- If there was any doubt why Illinois State is unbeaten, those doubts were blown away Wednesday afternoon.  The 13-0 Redbirds shot well, defended well, and sent their fans off to New Year's Eve parties in a partying mood after whipping the University of Evansville 80-50 at Redbird Arena.

Evansville is now 9-3 and 1-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference heading into Sunday afternoon's game at Indiana State.

Illinois State put this game out of reach early.  The Redbirds jumped ahead 20-5, 32-11 and finally 48-22 at the end of the first half on the strength of 18 of 33 shooting in the first 20 minutes.  The Redbirds hit nine of their 17 three-point tries in the first half.  At the defensive end, they held Evansville to 7-of-24 shooting.  Evansville had scored more than 70 points in seven consecutive games--including 73 against number one ranked North Carolina two weeks ago--before being held to 50 on Wednesday.

"We didn't play hard, and that's my fault," said UE Coach Marty Simmons.  "We know how we have to play to be successful, and we have three days to correct those things and get prepared."

Shy Ely led the Aces in scoring with 19 points.  He was UE's only player in double figures.  Osiris Eldridge (22) and Champ Oguchi (15) led the Redbirds.  Illinois State ended up hitting 29 of 62 shots for 47 percent and held the Aces to 17 of 48 shooting while forcing UE into 21 turnovers.

The Aces play again Sunday at Indiana State at 12:35 CST.  Evansville fans are encouraged to make the short trip to Terre Haute to support the Purple Aces, and to ask for seats in the UE fan section at Hulman Arena.