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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Eastern Illinois (6-9, 3-2 OVC) received 30 points from its bench as the Panthers ran past Southeast Missouri (3-13, 0-5) on Saturday night at the Show Me Center winning 83-63.

With the win EIU moved into sole possession of third place in the Ohio Valley Conference standings and will host Eastern Kentucky at 8 p.m. on Thursday night at Lantz Arena.

After a see-saw battle in the first 12 minutes of action SEMO's Calvin Williams brought the Redhawks to within three points with a dunk at the 7:42 mark of the first half. On the play Williams was called for a technical foul as EIU led 22-19 following the dunk.

Tyler Laser would sink both free throws on the technical foul as the Panthers went on a 14-5 run capped by a pair of Edin Suljic baskets in the paint. The final Suljic basket gave him eight first half points as EIU led 36-24 with 1:24 left in the half.

Kenard Moore closed the half with a dunk off a SEMO steal and running lay-up in the lane as the Redhawks trailed 36-28 at the break.

The Redhawks closed the margin to four points at the 14:23 mark on a jumper by Johnny Hill. EIU responded with an 11-2 run highlighted by a pair of 3-pointers by Laser.

Laser pushed the Panthers lead to 58-42 with a lay-up at 9:40 and sank a pair of free throws at 9:26 after Williams was tagged with his second technical foul of the game.

EIU led by as many as 22 points as five EIU players finished in double figures led by Suljic and Ousmane Cisse with 16 each. Cisse just missed his seventh career double-double with 9 rebounds. Laser added 14 with #T.J. Marion and Jeremy Granger# going for 10 each.

SEMO was led by Moore with 20 points hitting four 3-pointers. EIU won the battle on the glass 41-29.