Redhawks Drop 70-68 Heartbreaker to Southern Illinois - Southeast Missouri State University Athletics

Wednesday, December 21

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

6:30 PM

Southeast Missouri State University

5-8,0-0OVC

Southern Illinois

9-4,1-1MVC

Team	1	2	F
Southern Ill.	32	38	70
Southeast Mo. St.	30	38	68

Final Statistics

12/21/2022 9:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Statistics

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Chris Harris scored 19 points and Phillip Russell added 17 as Southeast Missouri (5-8) dropped a heartbreaking 70-68 decision to longtime rival Southern Illinois (9-4) Wednesday night at the Show Me Center.

The 120th meeting between the teams went wire-to-wire.

After SEMO forced a turnover, Harris drained a 3-pointer to cut SIU's lead to 69-68 with 18 seconds left.

The Salukis then split two free throws and the Redhawks had one final chance.

Russell missed a contested layup. Kobe Clark grabbed the offensive rebound and passed the ball to Harris who had a great look from beyond the arc. Harris' 3-pointer came off the rim and the Salukis escaped.

SEMO made a strong push at the end scoring nine of the game's last 13 points.

Both teams had their highs and lows in the first half.

Ahead, 18-16, SEMO went on an 8-0 run to take a double-digit lead as SIU did not score for 3:46. Harris buried a 3-pointer and Aquan Smart followed with a fastbreak layup. Russell added the next four points to increase the Redhawks lead to 26-16 with 8:13 remaining.

SIU later answered with a 12-0 run capitalizing on a cold spell by SEMO.

The Salukis missed 12-of-13 field goals prior to their surge which ended on a go-ahead jumper by Marcus Domask that put SIU ahead, 30-29.

Josh Earley's free throw tied the game before JD Muila's second-chance layup gave the Salukis a 32-30 halftime edge.

SEMO went 0-of-10 from the field in the final 6:26 of the opening stanza.

Harris shot 6-of-13 from the field and buried 5-of-8 threes matching his season-high in points. Russell hit 5-of-16 shots, including three from downtown, while Josh Earley added 11 points off the bench.

SEMO outshot SIU from the field and 3-point range. The Salukis held a 24-11 advantage at the free throw line.

Domask scored a game-high 24 points and made a perfect 8-of-8 free throws. Lance Jones chipped in 14 points for the Salukis.

SEMO will open Ohio Valley Conference play at Southern Indiana on Dec. 29.