Four Illinois State players scored in double figures, led by Carmichael's 20 and 18 from Missouri Valley Conference scoring leader Osiris Eldridge.  Lloyd Phillips added 11 and Tony Lewis came off the bench to score 10.  Denver Holmes scored a career-high 23 points to lead Evansville. Colt Ryan added 12 points and seven rebounds while James Haarsma pulled down 11 boards and scored nine points.
       
The 6'9" Carmichael scored 13 of Illinois State's first 30 points to put the Redbirds up 30-12 with eight minutes to go in the first half.  Down 42-25 at halftime, Evansville opened the second half with a 6-0 run as Holmes, Pieter van Tongeren and Haarsma put in points for UE to cut Illinois State’s lead to 42-31. The Redbirds answered the rally, though, with a seven-point run of their own to increase their lead to 49-31 and coast to their 12th win of the season.

"We didn't defend well enough, and we missed several opportunities around the basket that would have kept it closer," said UE Coach Marty Simmons.  "We just have to look at ourselves in the mirror and demand a little more out of ourselves."

The Aces played without guard Troy Taylor, away because of a death in his family, and frontcourt player Bryan Bouchie, who was ill.  But they did regain the services of guard Kavon Lacey, who missed the previous six games after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in December.  In addition, forward James Haarsma played 34 minutes after being slowed for the past week with a nagging foot injury.
 

Illinois State hit 29 of 58 shots for an even 50 percent, and held Evansville to only 19 field goals in 61 attempts for 31 percent.

A trip to Indiana State comes up next on the schedule for UE, as the Aces face the Sycamores Sunday at 12:35 CST.