Boxscore

WICHITA, Kan. -- Couisnard is a good name associated with University of Evansville basketball, except on nights when Wichita State is the opponent.  Senior P.J. Couisnard plays for the Shockers, sophomore Jay Couisnard plays for the Aces, and on Senior Night P.J. was the difference in Tuesday's game.

The  Shockers'  68-54 victory  momentarily puts them in ninth place at 4-13 and 11-18 overall.  The Aces are now 9-19 and 3-14.  The difference was P.J., who scored a career high 25 points on Senior Night while adding seven rebounds and three steals.

That loss drops Evansville to 10th in the Missouri Valley Conference, but doesn't mean the Aces will stay at the bottom going into the March 6-9 State Farm MVC Tournament.  They could move up with a victory Saturday at Roberts Stadium on Senior Night against Northern Iowa if Wichita loses Saturday at league champion Drake.

A strong finish to the first half Tuesday put Wichita State up 32-24 at halftime, and the Shockers went up by 12 early in the second half.  Evansville cut the margin to three, and it was still just a a five-point WSU lead at 52-47.  But the Shockers went up 61-51 in the final four minutes of the game, and Evansville was never able to make another run.

Shy Ely topped the Aces with 16 and Jason Holsinger added 10.  Both teams shot 45 percent, but the Shockers outscored the Aces 15-6 from behind the three-point arc, and 19-12 at the free throw line.