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.