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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois hit 12-of-13 free throws in overtime as the Panthers won their third straight game with a 78-72 win over Southeast Missouri on Saturday night in Lantz Arena.  EIU outscored SEMO 17-11 in the extra session.

EIU improved to 6-16 overall, 3-6 in the OVC.  SEMO dropped to 11-12, 3-6 in the OVC.  EIU returns to action next Saturday with a 7 p.m. game at SIU Edwardsville.

SEMO took a 54-53 lead in the ball game with 5:13 remaining as Tyler Stone scored on a lay-up.  Following an EIU turnover, Stone pushed the Redhawks lead to three points with another lay-up as Stone finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Morris Woods put EIU up 59-58 with 2:41 left in the second half before Stone converted a three point play to put SEMO up 61-39 with 1:38 left.  EIU had three offensive looks to tie the game in the final minute before Sherman Blanford was fouled grabbing an offensive rebound.  Blanford sank both free throws with six seconds left to push the game to overtime tied 61-61.

Blanford turned in a career night with 21 points and 16 rebounds.  He had nine offensive rebounds as EIU dominated play on the glass with a 50-34 rebounding margin including 18 offensive boards.

Josh Piper hit one of EIU's two field goals in overtime opening the scoring with a 3-pointer.  Marland Smith drained a 3-pointer with 1:32 left in overtime to give SEMO a 67-66 lead. EIU would then finish off the game with good defense and free throw shooting.  Blanford gave EIU the lead back with a jumper at 1:05 and then EIU converted ten straight free throws in the final 55 seconds. 

EIU opened the game building a 33-20 lead in the first half as Malcolm Herron had eight of his 11 points in the opening half.  SEMO closed that lead to 33-27 at the half with a 3-pointer by Smith, dunk by Stone and jumped by Corey Wilford.  Wilford led the Redhawks with 20 points, Smith added 14.

Piper added 13 points as five Panthers scored in double figures.  Austin Akers and Woods both added 12 points.  EIU finished the game 23-of-27 from the free throw line.