CARBONDALE, Ill.– Southern Illinois (6-7) erased a 10-point deficit with a 26-0 run and never turned back in a 64-45 win over Southeast Missouri (3-9) Saturday afternoon at Banterra Center.
 
Longtime rivals SEMO and SIU met for the 117th time on the hardwood in the all-time series that goes all the way back to 1914. The Salukis have now won 15 of the last 18 matchups between the teams.
 
SEMO started strong out of the gate with a 12-2 run in the opening six minutes of the contest. Alex Caldwell and Skyler Hogan each buried 3-pointers and Darrious Agnew scored two baskets in the paint to grab the Redhawks the double-digit advantage. 
 
The Redhawks instantly went cold after that missing their next 13 field goals and going scoreless for 11:21. SIU cashed in with a 26-0 run to open a 28-12 lead and later headed into the locker room ahead, 32-20.
 
SEMO began the game making four of its first six field goals for 66.7 percent. The Redhawks shot just 26.3 percent (5-19) over the final 14:24 of the opening stanza.
 
The Redhawks scored a season-low 20 points in the first half and did not score more than 26 first-half points for the third-straight game.
 
Things didn't get much better for SEMO in the second half where it continued its shooting woes. The Redhawks shot just 18 percent (2-of-12) over the first 8:08 of the final half.
 
SIU led by as many as 22 points before closing out its victory.
 
Hogan led SEMO with 15 points and seven points and Agnew followed with 10 points. 
 
Marcus Domask topped the Salukis with 14 points as one of four players with double figures in the scoring column.
 
SEMO completed its rugged eight-game road stretch with a 1-7 record since it began on Nov. 27.
 
The Redhawks will break for eight days before returning home to host Missouri Baptist on Dec. 29.