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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri hit ten 3-pointers in the first half and then held on for a 80-73 win over Eastern Illinois on Saturday night at the Show Me Center.

The loss snapped a three game EIU win streak as the Panthers fell to 9-7, 2-2 in the OVC.  SEMO improved to 10-8, 5-1 in the OVC.

Leon Powell pushed the SEMO lead to 17 points to open the second half before Jeremy Granger started an outstanding second half from the field.  Granger scored 25 of his career high 31 points in the second half hitting 10-of-16 from the field.  Granger added six assists.

Austin Akers lay-up with 10:57 to play got the Panthers deficit to single digits at 60-52.  SEMO was able to keep the lead near double digits for the next six minutes.

A Granger 3-pointer followed by a L.C. Doss steal and lay-up cut the margin to five points at 71-66 with 4:21 left.  SEMO went to the inside play of Powell to answer as he had 15 points to go along with 12 rebounds (8 offensive).

EIU got to within five points two times in the final 40 seconds on free throws by Granger and Alfonzo McKinnie but could get no closer.

Marland Smith had 21 of his 24 points in the opening half hitting 7-of-10 from 3-point range as the Redhawks led 44-29 at the half.

EIU built an 11-7 lead in the opening five minutes led by seven points by Joey Miller.  SEMO took the lead on a Tyler Stone bucket with 12:46 left in the half and extended the lead on the next possession with a Smith 3-pointer.   Stone had 18 points.

EIU tied the score at 17-17 on a Granger bucket at 9:32 only to fall behind on a Lucas Nutt 3-pointer.  Smith's seventh 3-pointer with 2:04 left in the half put the Redhawks up 15.

Miller reached double figures with 12 points for EIU.  McKinnie led EIU with six rebounds.  Granger's 31 points marked the first time an EIU player scored 30 or more points in a game since Jake Byrne had 30 against Jacksonville State on Feb. 28, 2008.

EIU returns to action on Thursday hosting Tennessee State at 7 p.m. in Lantz Arena.