NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State forward Jackie Carmichael scored 20 points and the Norfolk State offense had its worst night of the season in a 68-36 ISU victory on Sunday at Redbird Arena.

The Spartans (7-5) shot a season-low 22 percent, making just 10-of-46 from the floor. Chris McEachin had team highs of 10 points and six rebounds for NSU, but was the only Spartan to make more than one field goal.

NSU led 5-2 three minutes into the game, but quickly went cold from the floor. The Spartans shot just 4-of-20 (20 percent) in the opening half, making three 3-pointers and one two-point field goal. ISU (7-3) didn't fare much better, making just 27 percent (7-of-26) from the floor in the half. The Redbirds did connect on 13-of-13 from the foul line, helping stake them to a 28-18 halftime lead.

The Spartans continued to hang around early in the second half, and still trailed by just 10, 37-27, after a Marcos Tamares field goal with 13:14 left in the game.

But that would be NSU's last field goal for the next 10 minutes, 25 seconds. After Tamares' basket, ISU scored the next 17 points to open a commanding 54-27 lead with 7:46 remaining in the game. Jordan Threloff and Zeke Upshaw combined for 11 points in the run.

The 32-point defeat is NSU's worst of the season. The 36 points scored are NSU's fewest since a 99-36 loss at Oklahoma on Nov. 10, 2006.

Threloff had 11 points and 13 rebounds, and Anthony Cousin 10 scored 10 points for the Redbirds.

Tamares had seven points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists for the Spartans, who also committed 21 turnovers and got outrebounded 46-32.

The Spartans continue their road trek with a 7 p.m. game at the University of Toledo on Tuesday night.