MOREHEAD, Ky. – Rob Martin scored a game-high 22 points and Southeast Missouri (8-22, 3-14) was eliminated from Ohio Valley Conference Tournament contention when it fell to Morehead State (22-8, 13-4), 72-50, Thursday night at Johnson Arena.
 
Martin went over 20 points for the third time in his team-leading 18th double-digit game this season. 
 
SEMO struggled to get shots to fall early making just two field goals in the first 9:08. After missing five-straight to start the game, Braxton Stacker stole the ball and went in for a dunk for the Redhawks first points.
 
The Redhawks later came up empty on 12-of-13 attempts before Aquan Smart threw down a highlight-reel dunk off his own steal for SEMO's other basket during their nine-minute stretch.
 
MSU capitalized on the Redhawks misfortune and built a double-digit lead at 21-8. The Eagles connected on four-straight field goals, including a 3-pointer by Kalil Thomas that gave MSU its 13-point advantage with 8:27 to play in the first half.
 
SEMO used a 9-3 run with seven of those points from Rob Martin to get within six. Martin made a jumper, buried two free throws after MSU Head Coach Preston Spradlin was assessed a technical foul and knocked down a 3-pointer. Stacker followed with a jumper to cut the Eagles lead to 27-21 with 3:06 remaining.
 
Martin's jumper with 34 seconds trimmed MSU's lead to single digits, 34-25, at the half. Martin, who did not start the last two games, scored 14 of SEMO's 25 first-half points.
 
MSU went back up by double figures at the start of the second half and didn't let its lead dip below 10 the rest of the way.
 
Martin stayed hot for SEMO making his first four shots of the final stanza to go over 20 points.
 
The Eagles pulled ahead, 61-41, and the Redhawks used a 7-0 run to get within 13, but that was as close as they would get.
 
Martin shot 9-of-15 from the field and 3-of-4 at the free throw line. He also grabbed three rebounds and dished out four assists.
 
Stacker added a season-high 14 points.
 
MSU shot 53.3 percent (24-of-45) and put four of its starters in double figures. Thomas led the way with 18 points, Jordan Lathan had 16, Riley Minix turned in a double-double 13 points and 10 rebounds and Dieonte Miles chipped in 11 points.

SEMO ends its 2023-24 season at Southern Indiana Saturday.