LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Southeast Missouri (7-10, 2-2) ended a seven-game road losing streak behind a career-high 19 points by Dylan Branson in a 74-68 victory over Little Rock (5-12, 1-3) Saturday at the Jack Stephens Center.
 
SEMO led for all but 11 seconds and closed things out strong after LR made it a one-point game on multiple occasions down the stretch.
 
Branson scored 11 of his points in the last 20 minutes to help the Redhawks eke out their first win outside of Cape Girardeau since Nov. 26 (vs. Boston in Milwaukee, Wis.).
 
The Trojans pulled to within three (48-45) on a 3-pointer by Chris Walker early in the second half, but Branson scored on a fastbreak layup the next time SEMO had the ball.
 
LR was down by six multiple times over the ensuing seven-plus minutes before Branson nailed a 3-pointer to put the Redhawks up nine, 62-53, with 7:45 to go.
 
The Trojans responded by making three-straight field goals and added two free throws by Palermo to make it a 64-62 game at the 5:05 mark.
 
Following a Chris Harris jumper, Chris Walker drained a 3-pointer on the other end to pull LR within a point (66-65).
 
Phillip Russell then scored a layup, was fouled and converted a 3-point play to extend its lead to 69-65.
 
Coming out of the final media timeout, CJ White made a 3-pointer to again get LR within a point. After a SEMO miss, the Trojans had a chance to take the lead, however, Deantoni Gordon's jumper fell short.
 
A big defensive rebound and layup by Kobe Clark put the Redhawks ahead by three and Russell was later fouled. He split two free throws as SEMO led, 72-68, with 32 seconds on the clock.
 
Russell then rebounded a missed 3-pointer by White and made two more free throws to put SEMO's seventh win on ice.
 
SEMO forced 11 turnovers and led for over 17 minutes in the first half en route to its 36-33 edge at the intermission.
 
Harris scored SEMO's first five points and seven of the Redhawks 11 in the opening five minutes to get SEMO an 11-5 lead.
 
LR answered with a 8-0 run and went ahead, 13-11, on a layup by Nigel John with 11:27 remaining.
 
A 13-2 SEMO run followed and the Redhawks pulled ahead by nine. The Redhawks scored eight fast break points during their surge which ended on a layup by Russell that gave SEMO a 24-15 lead at the 5:13 mark.
 
Nate Johnson's dunk off an assist by Russell ran SEMO's lead to 28-17 with a little under four minutes to play before the Redhawks headed into the locker room with their seventh halftime advantage of the season.
 
Branson, who scored double figures in three of his last four games, shot 7-of-12 from the field, knocked down a pair of threes and hit 3-of-5 free throws.
 
Harris made 7-of-13 field goals and grabbed seven rebounds, while Russell shot 5-of-14 from the floor and a near-perfect 5-of-6 at the free throw line.
 
Both teams shot 43.9 percent from the field and SEMO outrebounded the Trojans, 39-35. LR turned the ball over 17 times and missed 12 layups.
 
The Redhawks return home to face Lindenwood on Jan. 12. Tip is set for 7 p.m., CT at the Show Me Center. For tickets, call (573) 651-2113 or visit SEMORedhawks.com/tickets.