Box Score Final Statistics | PDF Version

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Darrian Gray scored 18 points to lead three Redhawks in double figures, as Southeast Missouri (13-12, 4-7) defeated Eastern Illinois (9-15, 6-6), 74-68, Saturday afternoon in Ohio Valley Conference action at Lantz Arena.

Southeast ended a three-game losing streak in OVC play.

"We felt like we had a weight lifted off our shoulders," said Southeast head coach Dickey Nutt. "We had a very short turnaround after losing another close game and finished strong. We hung in there and found a way to win. We had a lot of good performances, but our defense won the game."

The Redhawks were ahead, 68-62, with 2:49 left to play when Jarekious Bradley drew a charge. Instead, Sherman Blanford's basket was waved off.

"Thet was huge," said Nutt. "It could have been a three-point play."

EIU managed to pull to within two (69-67) with 37 seconds left, however, Southeast made five free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

Southeast took a slight 34-33 halftime lead, as neither team was up by more than five points.
 
The Panthers opened the game with a 5-0 run in the first 1:44. Reggie Smith buried a three and Blanford made a pair of free throws to grab EIU the early lead.
 
EIU led by five on four more occasions before Gray's free throws gave Southeast its first lead of the game at 16-15 with 12:05 left.
 
After Keenan Anderson's free throw tied the game at 16-16, the Redhawks went on a 7-2 run to pull ahead, 23-18. Jamaal Calvin and Jarekious Bradley each made layups, while Gray capped the surge with a three at the 8:35 mark.
 
Gray started in place of Antonius Cleveland, who had a sore tailbone. He made 5-of-10 field goals, buried three 3-pointers and made 5-of-6 free throws in 35 minutes. Tyler Stone followed with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Bradley turned in a double-double 13 points and 10 boards.

Blanford led EIU with 20 points and nine rebounds.

Southeast limited the Panthers to 40.7 percent (22-of-54) from the field and under 40 percent from three-point range. EIU made 7-of-20 threes for 35 percent.

The Redhawks return home for four of their last five games of the regular-season. Southeast hosts UT Martin on Feb. 12. That game will be televised live on the CBS Sports Network.