MOREHEAD, Ky. – Rob Martin dropped in a game-high 27 points as Southeast Missouri (14-10, 9-4) crushed Ohio Valley Conference leader Morehead State (14-10, 9-4), 80-51, Thursday night at Johnson Arena.
 
SEMO won its fourth-straight game in its largest OVC win of the season. 
 
The Redhawks handed MSU only its eighth home loss since the 2020-21 campaign. After tonight, the Eagles are now 61-8 on their home court during that span. 
 
SEMO's 29-point victory marked the largest by an OVC opponent at Johnson Arena since Jan. 21, 2006, when MSU dropped an 88-65 decision to then-league member Jacksonville State. Additionally, the Redhawks came away with a win for the third time in four trips to Morehead.
 
BJ Ward set the tone by scoring eight of his team's first 12 points and SEMO jumped out to an early 12-4 lead a little over four minutes in.
 
Ward knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers and scored on a second-chance layup before Troy Cole, Jr. threw down a dunk off an alleyoop pass by Martin capping the surge.
 
Teddy Washington, Jr. split two free throws giving the Redhawks a 15-6 advantage with 12:55 remaining in the first half.
 
MSU answered with the next five points and used two Tyler Breisford free throws to get within four at 15-11.
 
SEMO then put together a 14-5 run to fueled by eight points from Martin. Martin's pullup jumper extended the Redhawks margin to 29-16 at the 4:15 mark. MSU made just one field goal in nearly seven minutes.
 
Martin later scored the final five points of the first half and drained a 3-pointer at the shot clock buzzer sending SEMO into the intermission with a 38-22 lead.
 
A native of St. Louis, Martin missed just three field goals and scored 17 points in the first half, where the Redhawks shot a red-hot 58.6 percent.
 
SEMO continued to have its way with the Eagles in the second half and never let its lead dip below double figures.
 
MSU cut the Redhawks lead to 40-29, but SEMO responded with a 12-3 run to go up by 20. 
 
Ward's 3-pointer and Elliot Lowndes' tip-in then put the Redhawks up by 30 on two occasions in the final 3:49 of action.
 
SEMO led for all but 1:49 and dominated in all facets.
 
The Redhawks shot 54.8 percent (34-of-62) from the field and outrebounded MSU, 38-28. It was the fourth game in a row, where SEMO shot 50 percent or better.
 
Martin finished with 11-of-19 field goals, 3-of-6 three-pointers and 2-of-2 free throws en route to his fourth 20-point effort of the season. He dished out five assists, as well. Martin has scored double figures in nine-straight starts.
 
Ward followed with 16 points on 6-of-12 from the field. Four of his makes were from 3-point range. 

SEMO, which split its season series with MSU, heads to Southern Indiana Saturday.