CHARLESTON, Ill.– Alex Caldwell's game-winning 3-point field goal attempt came off the rim at the buzzer and Eastern Illinois (11-9, 4-4) escaped with a 61-59 victory over Southeast Missouri (4-17, 0-8) Saturday at Lantz Arena.
 
Caldwell scored 16 of his career-high 20 points in the second half as SEMO battled back from a 10-point deficit in the final 13:08 of the game.
 
SEMO was set to inbound the ball under its own basket with 8.6 seconds left when an inadvertent whistle resulted in the officials awarding possession to EIU. Shareef Smith was immediately fouled and no time came off the clock.
 
Smith went to the free throw line and missed two free throws giving the Redhawks one last chance.
 
Quatarrius Wilson rebounded the ball on Smith's second miss and pitched it to Caldwell. Caldwell dribbled up the floor and forced a 3-pointer contested by two defenders and missed as time expired.
 
That was just one of many opportunities SEMO had down the stretch.
 
The Redhawks missed nine shots that were in the air that would have either tied the game or given them the lead in the last eight minutes of play.
 
Caldwell single-handedly got SEMO back in the game when it was down double figures by scoring eight-straight points capped by a 4-point play after he was fouled knocking down a three.
 
SEMO took a seven-point lead midway through the first half when Skyler Hogan drained a 3-pointer to make it a 20-13 contest.
 
After Caldwell's jumper put the Redhawks ahead, 31-27, EIU closed out the first half by scoring seven unanswered points in the final 2:50 to take a 34-31 halftime advantage.
 
EIU shot 58.3 percent from the field in the game's opening 20 minutes. SEMO, however, led for over 13 minutes despite the Panthers hot shooting. 
 
Caldwell made 7-of-17 field goals and 5-of-6 free throws as SEMO's only player in double figures. He missed seven of his eight 3-pointers, as well.
 
The Redhawks, who won the second half, 28-27, shot 34.8 percent (23-of-66).
 
Mack Smith topped EIU with 19 points. George Dixon contributed a double-double 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Josiah Wallace scored 11 points.
 
EIU managed to shoot 53.5 percent (23-of-43) for the game.
 
Either team could have won the tight contest at the free throw line where EIU and SEMO combined for 21 misses. The Redhawks shot 8-of-14 and the Panthers were 13-of-28 for 46.4 percent.
 
The Panthers remained undefeated at home this season and SEMO fell to its eighth-consecutive loss.
 
SEMO remains on the road to face Morehead State on Jan. 30.