Box Score Final Statistics | PDF Version | Photo Gallery

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Reggie Smith scored a game-high 23 points to lead Eastern Illinois (7-13, 4-5) to a 77-74 win over Southeast Missouri (11-10, 3-5) Saturday night in Ohio Valley Conference action at the Show Me Center.

Southeast, which saw its two-game winning streak come to an end, simply couldn't get it going against EIU.

"It's a gut-wrenching loss and we are very disappointed with the way we played," said Southeast head coach Dickey Nutt. "We didn't treat this game with a sense of urgency. We gave them confidence and they hit shots."

The Panthers shot 50 percent (28-of-56) from the field and surpassed its Ohio Valley Conference low scoring average by a +13 margin.

Southeast fell behind prior to the opening tip when it received a technical foul. Zack Dickerson split two free throws to give EIU a 1-0 lead before the ball was thrown in the air.
 
Down, 20-19, the Redhawks scored just one point in a period of 7:27. EIU took advantage of Southeast's cold spell and used a 17-1 run to take a 37-20 lead with 3:20 left in the first half. The Redhawks missed nine field goals and turned the ball over twice in that stretch.
 
Stone's jumper ended the drought and Southeast closed out the half with an 11-2 run in the final three minutes to narrow the Panthers lead to 39-33 at the intermission.

Southeast managed to cut EIU's lead to 75-72 on a Jarekious Bradley three-pointer with 16 seconds left, but that was as close as the Redhawks would get.

Smith shot 8-of-16 from the field and 6-of-9 at the free throw line to lead three Panthers in double figures. Dylan Chatman and Chris Piper followed with 13 points each.

EIU also outrebounded Southeast, 37-36.

Meanwhile, Stone led Southeast with 22 points and 11 rebounds, his team-high eighth double-double of the season. Bradley and Lucas Nutt added 18 and 17 points, respectively. Nutt shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the field and dished out five assists. He needs just nine more to break the Redhawks all-time career assists record.

Southeast shot just 19 percent (4-of-21) from three-point range.

The Redhawks step outside of OVC play to host UMKC on Jan. 29. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., CT, at the Show Me Center.