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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri scored 24 points off of Eastern Illinois turnovers on Saturday night as SEMO beat EIU 83-71 at the Show Me Center.
EIU drops to 9-11 overall, 1-6 in the OVC. The Panthers will host Belmont on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in Lantz Arena. SEMO improves to 9-13 overall, 4-3 in the OVC.
The Panthers held the lead early at 11-9 with 14:13 to play in the first half. Antonius Cleveland scored five of his 18 points during a 14-2 run that pushed the Redhawks out to a double digit lead with 8:35 to play as Jonathan Dalton sank a 3-pointer to put SEMO up 28-15.
EIU answered with a 13-2 run of its own as they cut the lead to 30-28 on a jumper by
Ray Crossland with 2:58 to play. SEMO closed the half on a 5-0 run to lead 35-28 at the half.
In the second half SEMO hit 10 of its first 13 shots as they Redhawks quickly built a double digit lead. SEMO shot 56 percent for the second half as the Redhawks had an answer for several EIU quick runs.
The Panthers cut the SEMO lead to six points three different times in the final seven minutes. The final time was with 2:20 to play as
Patrick Muldoon knocked down a pair of free throws following a flagrant foul call. EIU then had a chance to cut deeper into the 72-66 lead as they were rewarded the ball under the basket but could not cut into the lead. Muldoon finished with 10 points, one of five EIU players in double figures.
Demetrius McReynolds led EIU with 19 points followed by Crossland with 15 points.
Montell Goodwin had 14 points and
Casey Teson 11.
Trey Kellum had a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds as SEMO finished with a 39-31 rebound advantage. Tahj Eaddy added 15 points.