Big Second Half Buries Eastern Illinois in 68-59 New Year's Day Win

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Braxton Stacker scored 15 points and Southeast Missouri (7-7, 2-1) wiped out a 15-point deficit in a 68-59 come-from-behind win over Eastern Illinois (4-9, 1-2) Thursday night at the Show Me Center.
 
SEMO trailed, 34-19, with 3:14 remaining in the first half and was down seven (37-30) at halftime before turning it on in the second stanza.
 
The Redhawks outscored the Panthers, 38-22, and limited EIU to just 25 percent (7-of-28) from the field in the final 20 minutes of action.
 
SEMO used a 9-0 jaunt early in the second half to get ahead of EIU for the first time since BJ Ward’s 3-pointer gave the Redhawks a 3-0 edge 57 seconds into the contest.
 
David Idada scored the go-ahead basket on a layup to give SEMO a 43-41 lead with 13:27 to go. Stacker then stole the ball and made a layup to put the Redhawks up four. 
 
Tied, 47-47, following a fast break dunk by Luke Almodovar, the Redhawks started to pull away for good.
 
On SEMO’s next possession, Landren Blocker threw down an alleyoop dunk. Marqueas Bell added a layup and Almodovar made two free throws to cap a six-point swing giving the Redhawks a 53-47 lead with 7:11 remaining.
 
Stacker later drained a 3-pointer to push the Redhawks lead to 66-55 at the 1:53 mark and SEMO never let up the rest of the way.
 
The Redhawks overcame a slow start which saw them miss nine of their first 11 field goals.
 
SEMO managed to put together an 11-1 run to get within five.
 
Stacker made a 3-pointer, was fouled and completed a four-point play to ignite the stretch. Troy Cole, Jr. scored, drew a foul and converted his 3-point play. Layups by Brendan Terry and Stacker trimmed EIU’s lead to 35-30 with 39 seconds left.
 
Zion Fruster’s jumper bounced off the rim and in to beat the buzzer sending the Panthers into the half with a 37-30 advantage.
 
SEMO heated up to shoot 53.3 percent (16-of-30) from the field in the second half.
 
Stacker shot 5-of-13 from the floor, made two 3-pointers and grabbed five rebounds.
 
Almodovar added 11 points, while Bell finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
 
The Redhawks outrebounded the Panthers, 37-28, and held a 42-24 advantage in the paint.
 
Andre Washington led all EIU scorers with 14 points.
 
Brad Korn picked up his 81st win and moved to second all-time in victories among head coaches in SEMO’s NCAA Division I era.
 
The Redhawks, who won five of their last six games, are back in action when they host Western Illinois on Jan. 3.