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RICHMOND, Ky. – Jaron Jones tied a game-high 20 points and made six free throws in the last 34 seconds to lift Eastern Kentucky (10- 7, 4-1) to a 63-59 win over Southeast Missouri (8-8, 3-1) Saturday night at McBrayer Arena.

EKU snapped Southeast's four-game winning streak and handed the Redhawks their first Ohio Valley Conference loss of the season.

The Redhawks and Colonels went down to the wire in a dogfight that wasn't decided until the final minute.

Southeast, trailing by as many as five (53-48) with under 10 minutes left to play in the game, took a 59-57 lead on Leon Powell's layup with 2:06 remaining.

Jones, who was fouled on EKU's following possession, calmly made a pair of free throws to tie things up at 59-59 with 34 seconds on the clock.

Jones was then fouled again after getting a steal, and went to the free throw line to sink two more with 23 ticks left.

Southeast had opportunities down the stretch, but Nick Niemczyk couldn't get his wide open three-pointer to fall that would have given the Redhawks the lead with eight seconds, and Powell missed two free throws (second attempt was intentional) that would have tied the game four seconds later.

Jones buried his other two free throws with one second remaining to seal the win.

“It was disappointing and we had our chances,” said Southeast head coach Dickey Nutt. “Despite the fact that we struggled at the free throw line, we played well enough to win this game.”

The Redhawks shot just 30.8 percent (4-of-13) at the free throw line, while EKU made 20-of-24 attempts (83.3 percent) and missed only twice in the second half (15-of-17).

“It's a lack of concentration and our free throw shooting must improve,” added Nutt. “We came into a tough place to play tonight.”

Southeast picked up right where it left off with its red-hot shooting.

After making a season-high 59.2 percent of its field goals two nights earlier at UT Martin, Southeast started strong by hitting 17-of-25 attempts en route to a blazing .680 clip in the first half.

Tyler Stone and Marcus Brister combined for 29 of the Redhawks first 32 points of the game to set the tone for the Redhawks. Stone erupted for 17 points in a little over 16 minutes, while Brister added 12 points, including 10 in the opening 8:21.

Tied, 10-10, Southeast scored six unanswered points, with Brister, Stone and Niemczyk scoring once apiece to grab Southeast a 16-10 lead with 12:42 left to play.

Shortly after Jeff Allgood's three-pointer pulled EKU to within one (22-21) at the 7:03 mark, Southeast responded with a 10-4 run to take a 32-25 lead with just under three minutes left.

Stone, who scored seven points to key the run, started things off with a big dunk off a Brister pass immediately following Allgood's three. He then nailed a jumper on Southeast's next possession and later hit a three-pointer. Brister's basket capped the surge, extending the Redhawks lead to 32-25 with 2:57 remaining.

Powell's tip-in off a Niemczyk miss and Marland Smith's jumper helped get Southeast a 36-30 lead at the intermission.

Stone did not miss a field goal in the first half, making all eight of his shots. Brister was equally impressive, going a near-perfect 6-of-7 from the floor.

Additionally, Southeast posted its first halftime lead at EKU since 2002-03. That year, the Redhawks led, 46-28, at the half, before winning, 93-77, on Jan. 9.

Stone led the Redhawks with 18 points. However, he took three shots and scored one point in 19 minutes during the second half.

Brister followed with 14 points and registered game-highs in rebounds (7) and assists (7). He, too, was quiet in the second half, scoring two points after putting up double figures in the game's first 20 minutes.

Smith chipped in 13 points.

Southeast shot 50 percent or better from the field in its fourth-straight game. The Redhawks hit 56.8 percent (25-of-44) of their attempts.

Jones shot 50 percent (5-of-10) from the field and scored half of his points at the free throw line (10-of-12) to lead EKU.

Joshua Jones was the other Colonel with 20 points on 7-of-12 field goals and 4-of-4 free throws.

Southeast returns to Cape Girardeau to host SIU Edwardsville on Jan. 12. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., CT, at the Show Me Center. The Redhawks are 6-2 at home this season.