CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Little Rock (17-11, 11-4) shot 54 percent en route to an 83-61 win over Southeast Missouri (8-20, 3-12) Thursday night in Ohio Valley Conference action at the Show Me Center.
 
Currently the hottest team in the OVC, LR trailed for just 56 seconds before leading the rest of the way to its sixth-straight victory.
 
SEMO struggled to get shots to fall missing eight of its first eight field goals and four of its first five attempts from long range. As a result, the Redhawks fell behind by double-digits in the opening seven minutes.
 
LR, which made only one 3-pointer in the first meeting between these teams in Little Rock on Jan. 27, drained three treys during that stretch. Makhel Mitchell's dunk off a SEMO turnover pushed the Trojans lead to 17-7 with 13:07 remaining in the first half.
 
The Trojans took their largest lead of the first half behind an 11-0 run. 
 
Jamir Chaplin scored four points to key the surge that ended with Jaylen Crocker-Johnson's hook shot that increased LR's lead to 38-21 with 4:38 left.
 
Rob Martin later buried a second-chance 3-pointer to narrow the Trojans margin to 43-32 before LR headed into the locker room with a 45-33 advantage.
 
LR seized the momentum early shooting 56.7 percent (17-of-30) and outrebounding SEMO, 18-9, in the opening stanza. Seven of the Trojans' rebounds came on the offensive end.
 
The Trojans didn't cool off much in the second half making over 51 percent of their shots to close things out.
 
LR finished at 32-of-59 from the field and 13-of-16 at the free throw line. The Trojans outrebounded the Redhawks, 41-23.
 
Josh Earley led all SEMO scorers with 18 points. OVC Freshman of the Week Marqueas Bell followed with 10 points for his third-straight double-digit scoring performance.
 
Five Trojans scored double figures led by Chapin's double-double 19 points and 11 rebounds. Mitchell turned in a double-double of his own with 17 points and 10 boards.
 
The Redhawks host UT Martin in their home finale Saturday. Josh Earley, Aquan Smart and Dylan Branson will be recognized as part of Senior Day prior to tip-off.