Box Score WICHITA, Kan.- Senior P.J. Couisnard went out with a bang as he finished with a career-high 25 points to help fuel Wichita State (11-18, 4-13) to a 68-54 victory over Evansville (9-19, 3-14) on senior night Tuesday inside Charles Koch Arena.

Ramon Clemente earned his fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Shy Ely paced the Aces with 16 points while Jason Holsinger added 10 points.

UE came out on fire, going on an 8-0 run in the game's first four minutes. Couisnard finally got the Shockers on the board with a layup that sparked a 9-0 WSU run. J.T. Durley put the finishing touches on the run, and gave WSU a 9-8 lead with a layup at the 13:17 mark.

The Aces retook the lead on back-to-back baskets by Holsinger. The Shockers started to pull away late in the half. Couisnard stole a pass intended for Ely and drove in for a dunk that brought the crowd to its feet and forced UE head coach Marty Simmons to call timeout.

Couisnard capped an 8-2 run to end the half with an old-fashioned three-point play as he drove the baseline and laid the ball in while being fouled by his brother Jay Couisnard. WSU went into the intermission with a 32-24 lead.

After another three-point play and a deep three-pointer from Couisnard, the Aces made their comeback. Ely hit two free throws to cap a 9-0 run and pull UE within three, 38-35, with 15:17 to play.

Senior Matt Braeuer helped put an end to the Aces' momentum with by connecting from behind the arc to push the lead back to 43-37.

WSU started to pull away with defense and hot shooting. Wendell Preadom and Couisnard sandwiched three-pointers around two free throws by Brett Burley for a 55-47 advantage with 5:47 left.

Senior Lance Harris drove the lane and dished to Durley for a thunderous dunk that help spark an 11-2 run to end the game. The Shockers led by as much as 17, 68-51, after another Couisnard steal led to a fastbreak layup.

“I want to thank the seniors for their hard work and leadership that they have given this ball club all season,” said head coach Gregg Marshall. “It hasn't been easy. It's not the best way to go out as a senior. They keep hanging in there and keep doing their best. P.J. (Couisnard) had an unbelievable night tonight.”

The four WSU seniors combined to score 36 points. Phil Thomasson was limited to just nine minutes of action due to a foot injury in the first half. He finished with four points and two rebounds, and did nto return. His foot is still being evaluated.

“All the seniors are very fine young men,” said Marshall. “They are guys that I'd like to have a relationship with for the rest of my life, similar to some of the guys that I've coached in the past. They're just good people.

The Shockers finished the game shooting 44 percent, and connected on five three-pointers. WSU stepped up its perimeter defense and held the Aces to 16 percent shooting from behind the arc, hitting just 2 of 12 attempts.

WSU will be back in action on Sat., Mar. 1, as the team travels to Des Moines, Iowa, to take on No. 20 Drake (24-4, 14-3).

-Wichita State-