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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri opened the game making 10-of-11 shots as the Redhawks built an early lead over Eastern Illinois winning 77-64 on Saturday night at the Show Me Center.

After EIU out-rebounded SEMO by a 50-34 margin two weeks ago in Lantz Arena, SEMO won the battle on the glass, 37-31, on Saturday to improve to 13-13, 5-7 in the OVC.  EIU fell to 7-18, 4-8 in the OVC.  EIU hosts Austin Peay on Thursday night at 7 p.m.

SEMO opened the game red hot from the floor hitting 10 of their first 11 shots as they quickly built a 27-8 lead.  A.J. Jones scored 11 points in that early run capping it with a 3-pointer at 11:19.  The Redhawks cooled off the remainder of the half shooting 62 percent for the half.

EIU was able to cut the lead to 31-19 on Alex Austin's fast-break lay-up with 4:34 left in the half.  SEMO answered by closing out the half with five straight 3-pointers as Corey Wilford hit three and Marland Smith two.  SEMO was 9-of-14 from 3-point range in the half to lead 48-23 at half time.

The Panthers found some offense to open the second half as they shot 60 percent from the field for the first eight minutes trimming the SEMO lead to 14 on a Keenan Anderson bucket at 56-42 with 12:01 left.

Smith continued to have the hot hand for the Redhawks as he finished the night 9-of-15 from 3-point range leading all scorers with 29 points.

The Panthers forced eight second half turnovers and Austin converted a pair of those into 3-pointers for EIU.  His shot at 6:24 closed the margin to 12 points as SEMO led 67-55.  Smith countered for the Redhawks to end the EIU threat.

Austin led EIU with 16 points.  Sherman Blanford added 11 points. 

SEMO finished the game shooting 52 percent.  Wilford, Jones and Tyler Stone all scored in double figures for the Redhawks.