CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Eric Reed, Jr. scored 21 points and Southeast Missouri (13-16, 8-8) outscored UT Martin (8-21, 4-13) 25-7 at the free throw line in a 76-69 win Thursday night at the Show Me Center.
 
Reed, Jr. scored eight-straight points in a span of two minutes to grab SEMO a 64-59 lead with 5:17 remaining.
 
After Mikel Henderson knocked down a 3-pointer to narrow SEMO's lead to 68-65, Chris Harris immediately answered with a huge trey to grab a six-point advantage for the Redhawks with just under two minutes to go.
 
SEMO's lead didn't dip below four after Harris' shot as the Redhawks finished strong down the stretch to close out their 13^th win of the season.
 
The Redhawks led for the final 7:17 of the contest which featured five ties and 10 lead changes.
 
Neither team led by more than six points until the last minute of a back-and-forth first half.
 
Tied, 22-22, DQ Nicholas buried a 3-pointer and Phillip Russell made jumper right after the Skyhawks pulled within a point. 
 
After Henderson's free throw made it a one-point game again, Manny Patterson sunk two free throws and Eric Reed, Jr. buried a jumper to give SEMO a 35-30 advantage with 1:17 remaining in the first half.
 
Harris was later fouled behind the 3-point line and UTM was charged with a technical foul. That resulted in Reed, Jr. draining two free throws and Harris adding one to increase the Redhawks lead to 38-30.
 
Russell then threw a nice pass to Patterson for a layup as time expired giving SEMO a 40-32 lead at the break.
 
Both teams shot well in the opening 20 minutes. SEMO made 54.2 percent (13-of-24) of its shots and UTM hit 50 percent (14-of-28) of its field goals. The Redhawks also outscored the Skyhawks, 12-1, at the free throw line in the first half.
 
SEMO shot 46.2 percent (24-of-52) from the field on an off-night from long range (3-of-15). The Redhawks made 25-of-32 free throws, as well and those loomed large in the end.
 
Reed, Jr. shot 7-of-12 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line. Patterson followed with 16 points and, like Reed, Jr., did not miss a free throw (8-of-8). He also pulled down six rebounds. 
 
Russell was SEMO's other double-digit scorer with 10 points and a game-high four assists. Additionally, DQ Nicholas contributed nine points and six rebounds.
 
KJ Simon topped UTM with a game-high 24 points. The Skyhawks edged the Redhawks, 37-36, in the second half.
 
SEMO plays host to #19 Murray State in its regular-season finale Saturday. Tip is set for 4 p.m., CT. Patterson and Nygal Russell will be honored as part of the Redhawks Senior Day festivities prior to the game.