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NASHVILLE – Southeast Missouri shot 63 percent in the opening half as the Redhawks beat Eastern Illinois, 78-68, on Wednesday night in the opening round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

EIU ends its season at 11-21 overall.  SEMO is 17-15 and will play No. 3 seed Eastern Kentucky on Thursday night.

"It was as fun of an 11-win season as a guy can have," Spoonhour said following the game. "It really was.  We've got guys that really pull for each other."

Both teams started off fast with EIU leading 12-11 at the first media timeout.  SEMO then led 16-12 off a 3-pointer by Marland Smith and jumped by Nick Niemczyk.  SEMO hit 6-of-12 from 3-point range in the first half.

EIU then regained the lead as Alex Austin hit five straight free throws to put EIU up 17-16 at 10:57.  Austin had nine first half points to lead EIU and 17 for the game.

SEMO responded with 3-pointers by Smith and Corey Wilford to go back in front.  Austin hit a pair of free throws and a runner in the lane to cut the Redhawks advantage to 22-21 at 7:26.

Tyler Stone scored eight of his 12 first half points in the final 7:16 as SEMO closed the half outscoring EIU 20-8.  Stone had two baskets on dunks following steals as SEMO had five first half steals.

"Coming off the bench is just like starting for me.  I get to see how the other team comes out and try to bring the energy to the team," said Stone of his new role as SEMO's top reserve.  "Since I haven't been starting I think we've been playing a lot better.  It brings more energy and bench points."

SEMO shot 63 percent in the first half to lead 42-29 at the break.

Josh Piper hit back-to-back shots to open the second half as the Panthers cut the Redhawks lead to ten at 43-33.  Piper led EIU with 19 points.

"I'm really excited about the future of EIU basketball," said Piper following the game.  EIU was making its first OVC Tournament appearance since 2010.  "We have some guys coming in next year and some guys that couldn't play this year that have a lot of talent.  I think we are going to be good in the future."

Stone again answered for SEMO with a basket at the 18-minute mark and three point play at 16:35 that put SEMO up 48-33. Stone led all players with 24 points going 11-of-12 from the floor.

EIU was able to cut the SEMO lead to ten points four more times the remainder of the game but could never get the lead to single digits. 

SEMO ended the game shooting 55 percent from the floor.  Wilford and Smith each had 14 points.

Morris Woods and Malcolm Herron both scored in double figures for EIU off the bench.  Woods had 13 and Herron 11.  Herron was one of three EIU seniors playing their final games joining Austin Akers and Taylor Jones.