MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois (9-6, 2-0) made 12 free throws in the final 4:53 of the game to close out a 68-61 win over Southeast Missouri (5-10, 1-2) Thursday night in Ohio Valley Conference action at Western Hall.
 
WIU, which made 15-of-17 free throws in the second half, sunk its final 12 of the contest to fight off a feisty SEMO team searching for its first road win of the season.
 
SEMO outscored WIU, 16-9, in the first six minutes of the final stanza to get within three.
 
After Rob Martin scored six-straight points, Aquan Smart got a steal and broke away for a dunk to make it a 45-42 contest with 14:12 remaining.
 
David Idada came off the bench, stole the ball and scored. Idada was fouled and missed his ensuing free throw to get the Redhawks within a point (48-47) with 12:29 to play.
 
Then, Martin knocked down a jumper to put SEMO ahead, 49-48, for its first lead since the 13-minute mark of the first half.
 
TJ Biel scored to regain a one-point advantage for the Redhawks again before WIU countered with back-to-back baskets. Ryan Myers made a pullup jumper and Jesiah West scored off an offensive rebound and assist by Drew Cisse to grab the Leathernecks a 56-53 cushion.
 
SEMO trailed by one following a basket by Josh Earley, but JJ Kalakon made four free throws in a row to put WIU ahead, 60-55, with 4:07 on the clock.
 
The Redhawks continued to battle and trimmed the Leathernecks lead to one (62-61) when Earley scored with 1:21 left to play.
 
James Denton Jr., however, answered with two free throws to put WIU up three 19 seconds later.
 
After Earley missed the front end of a 1-and-1, Dent missed a jumper and the Leathernecks retained possession when the ball went out of bounds. With 18 seconds left and the shot clock off, Dent and West combined for four free throws in the final seconds to cap WIU's victory.
 
SEMO took an early 5-0 lead on a basket by Smart and 3-pointer by Martin. 
 
With under eight minutes to go in the first half, Dylan Branson scored to tie the game at 19-19. After that, WIU outscored the Redhawks 17-7 in the final 7:32 to take a 36-26 lead at the intermission.
 
Eight different Redhawks made it into the scoring column in the first half.
 
SEMO won the second half, 35-32, and put two players in double figures. Earley paved the way with 18 points and five rebounds and Martin followed with 13 points. The Redhawks missed six of their seven free throw attempts in the last 20 minutes.
 
Myers and Kalakon each scored 16 points to pace WIU, which outrebounded SEMO, 50-33. The Leathernecks had 23 offensive rebounds, as well. 
 
WIU entered the game ranked 348 out of 351 NCAA Division I programs in free throw percentage and held a 19-4 advantage (+15) at the free throw line. That was the difference as the Leathernecks made over 70 percent (19-of-27) of their free throws for the game.
 
SEMO returns to Cape Girardeau to host Bethel University in its final non-conference matchup of the season Saturday.