EVANSVILLE, Ind. – #2 Morehead State (20-12) scored six points in the final 27 seconds to edge #3 Southeast Missouri (20-13), 66-61, in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament semifinals Friday.
 
MSU led for just 4:12 and didn't pull ahead until Chase Dawson's baseline jumper gave the Eagles a 62-61 lead with 27 seconds on the clock.
 
SEMO, playing for the last shot, turned the ball over with eight seconds to go.
 
Luke Almodovar was called for a flagrant foul and Josiah LeGree made two free throws. MSU kept the ball, and George Marshall was fouled on the ensuing in-bounds pass. Marshall then knocked down two more free throws to seal the win.
 
Dawson's basket gave the Eagles their first lead since the 13:30 mark in the first half.
 
SEMO jumped out to an early 8-3 lead and MSU responded with a 12-0 run to take a 15-8 advantage with 14:49 remaining in the first half.
 
The Redhawks countered with a 10-0 surge of their own and regained a one-point edge on Luke Almodovar's 3-pointer. Troy Cole, Jr. followed that up with two free throws to put SEMO ahead, 18-15, with 11:12 to go.
 
Braxton Stacker later made two free throws to stretch SEMO's margin to 31-23 at the 3:09 mark. Stacker then scored on a floater at the buzzer to give the Redhawks a 36-29 lead at the half. 
 
SEMO led for a span of 15:21 and had a near-perfect 10-of-11 free throws in the first half. 
 
Stacker ended his career with a team-high 17 points on 6-of-15 field goals and 5-of-5 free throws. Almodovar followed with 13 points and six rebounds, while Marqueas Bell added seven points and eight rebounds off the bench.
 
Anouar Mellouk led MSU with 22 points. The Eagles missed 10 free throws (21-of-31) but made the four that counted most in the final seconds.
 
SEMO ends its season after advancing to the OVC Tournament semifinals for the third time in four years.