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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Southeast Missouri went on a key run with six minutes remaining in the game on Saturday afternoon as the Redhawks knocked off Eastern Illinois, 88-79, in Lantz Arena.
 
EIU fell to 14-13 overall, 7-7 in the OVC.  SEMO improved to 9-18 overall, 4-10 in the league.
 
The Redhawks held a 75-72 lead with 6:01 to play after Ben Harvey connected on a jumper in the lane to bring the Panthers to within one possession.  After a turnover by SEMO, EIU had two cracks at tying the game with 3-point attempts by Josiah Wallace and Kashawn Charles.  Both shots were off the mark on a night when EIU finished 12-of-27 from 3-point range.
 
Following the Charles miss, SEMO went on a 7-0 run to extend the lead to ten points and held on for the win.
 
Both teams opened the game shooting at a blistering pace with SEMO connecting for 58 percent in the first half and EIU knocking down 56 percent from the floor.   SEMO held a 46-39 lead at the half with both teams adding seven 3-pointers.
 
Jonathan Dalton pushed the SEMO lead to 12 points with 17:52 to play as they opened the second half with a 7-2 run.  Dalton finished with a team high 17 points as he was one four Redhawks in double figures.
 
EIU quickly cut into the lead with a 16-6 run over the next five minutes. A 3-pointer by Wallace brought the Panthers to within two points at 59-57 with 12:47 left in the contest.  Charles had eight points for EIU during the run knocking down a pair of 3-pointers as he finished with ten points.
 
EIU would take the lead with ten minutes remaining on a bucket by JaQualis Matlock before the two teams traded the lead for the next two and a half minutes.  SEMO would take the lead for good with 7:27 remaining as Dalton sank three free throws and then had a basket following an EIU miss on the ensuing possession.
 
Harvey would lead EIU with 29 points going 11-of-14 from the floor as EIU shot 53 percent for the game.  Wallace added 12 points and Mack Smith had 11.
 
Gabe McGlothan was one of three SEMO players with 13 points as he also pulled down ten rebounds.   SEMO finished the game shooting 54 percent including 11-of-22 from 3-point range.