CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Aquan Smart scored 14 points leading four players in double figures and Southeast Missouri (14-14, 9-6) led the entire 40 minutes in a 78-64 win over Eastern Illinois (9-19, 5-10) Thursday night at the Show Me Center.
 
The Redhaws used a balanced effort that saw eight different players score. SEMO snapped a three-game losing streak and sent the Panthers to their 10th Ohio Valley Conference loss this year.
 
SEMO scored the first seven points of the game behind a 3-pointer from Phillip Russell and four points by Nate Johnson. The Redhawks later put together a 9-0 run to take a 16-5 lead.
 
Dylan Branson buried a 3-pointer, Israel Barnes added a layup and Josh Earley scored four points, including two on an alley-oop dunk off a pass from Russell with 14:39 remaining.
 
The Redhawks extended their lead to double figures (24-14) once Branson buried another 3-pointer with 9:36 left to play.
 
Behind a 12-0 run, SEMO widened its lead to 20 (42-22) in the last five minutes of the first half. A four-point play by Russell and four points by Mason Hanback polished off that stretch. Hanback scored again and Branson knocked down a 3-pointer to run SEMO's lead to 47-29 at the intermission.
 
SEMO heated up to shoot 60 percent (18-of-30) from the field and assisted 12 of its makes in the opening stanza. Eight different players scored helping the Redhawks get their big halftime advantage.
 
The Redhawks continued to pick apart the Panthers in the second half and took a 54-34 lead, their biggest of the game, on a second-chance dunk by Earley. 
 
EIU managed to pull within 11 on multiple occasions, but that was as close as it would get.
 
Smart shot 7-of-9 at the free throw line, made three field goals and matched a career-high in points. Branson followed close behind with 12 points, while Russell added 11 points and seven assists and Johnson chipped in 10 points.
 
Additionally, Hanback scored a season-high eight points on a perfect 4-of-4 field goals.
 
SEMO shot 46.7 percent (28-of-60) for the game and forced 20 turnovers.
 
Nick Eliington led EIU with 17 points followed by Cape Girardeau native Kinyon Hodges' 12. 

SEMO hosts Southern Indiana in its final home game of the season Saturday. Start time is 4 p.m., CT. Seniors Johnson, Chris Harris and Israel Barnes will be recognized before tip-off. For tickets, call (573) 651-2113 or purchase online at SEMORedhawks.com/Tickets.