CHARLESTON, Ill. – Phillip Russell scored 19 points and had six assists leading four players in double figures as Southeast Missouri (12-11, 7-3) grinded out a 79-68 win over Eastern Illinois (7-16, 3-7) Saturday at Lantz Arena.
 
SEMO, which has heated up to win seven of its last nine games, remains tied for first in the Ohio Valley Conference standings. The Redhawks also won three-straight OVC road games for the first time since 2012-13.
 
The Redhawks fell behind, 6-2, but responded by scoring the next 19 points to grab a 21-6 lead with 12:20 remaining in the first half.
 
Russell got things going with the first five points of the surge and then capped the run with a four-point play after he drained a 3-pointer, was fouled and made his extra free throw.
 
EIU later strung together a 10-0 run and pulled within seven (27-20) on Cameron Haffner's 3-pointer at the 5:42 mark.
 
Nate Johnson's layup slowed down the Panthers and SEMO regained a double-digit lead when Adam Larson scored off a Russell assist to make it 31-20 with 4:19 left to play.
 
Russell knocked down his third 3-pointer to send the Redhawks into the locker room ahead, 39-29, at the intermission.
 
Russell scored 15 points and had six assists in 13 minutes during the first half. He went over 200 career assists on his third dish of the game with 11:00 on the clock.
 
EIU quickly got back in the game with a 13-6 run to start the second half. Sincere Malone stole the ball and broke away for a layup to cut SEMO's lead to 45-42 with 16:34 to go.
 
Yaakema Rose's step back jumper made it a three-point game again at 47-44, but Adam Larson buried a 3-pointer on SEMO's ensuing possession.
 
Then, the Panthers scored layups off back-to-back steals to close the Redhawks lead to 50-48 at the 13:21 mark.
 
After Kyle Thomas followed with a layup to tie the game at 50-50, Larson countered with his second three off the bench putting SEMO back on top.
 
Aquan Smart's two free throws and jumper gave the Redhawks a 57-52 lead and Nate Johnson grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to stretch SEMO's lead to 59-54 with 7:48 left.
 
Larson came up big again sinking another 3-pointer from the right corner to widen SEMO's lead to 62-55 with 7:31 on the clock. 
 
EIU managed to get within three twice more, however, Israel Barnes made a layup and Russell hit two free throws to put SEMO back up by five.
 
The Panthers couldn't get any close the rest of the way and SEMO ran its lead back to double figures when Russell made two free throws to give the Redhawks a 75-65 advantage.
 
SEMO made 6-of-8 free throws in the final minutes to put the finishing touches on its 12th win of the season.
 
Russell shot 4-of-8 from the field and made 8-of-10 free throws. He also drained three 3-pointers and went over 200 assists in his career.
 
Barnes and Larson followed with 11 points apiece, while Earley chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
SEMO shot 50 percent (12-of-24) from the field in the second half and finished with a 47.3 percent (26-of-55) clip for the game.
 
The Redhawks beat EIU in Charleston for the fifth time in six trips. SEMO also posted its sixth-straight win in its series against the Panthers.
 
SEMO returns home to host Little Rock on Feb. 2. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., CT at the Show Me Center. For tickets, call (573) 651-2113 or visit online at SEMORedhawks.com/Tickets.