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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Senior Josh Daniel scored all of his game-high 19 points in the second half to lead the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team past host Southeast Missouri, 64-52, Saturday afternoon at the Show Me Center.

EKU (9-9, 4-4 OVC) led for the entire game, until a layup by Leon Powell gave SEMO (5-13, 4-4 OVC) its first lead, 47-46, with 6:40 left in regulation. Daniel, however, responded with nine straight points out of a timeout – consecutive three-point plays followed by a three-pointer – to spark a critical 11-1 run that gave EKU a 57-48 lead with just over three minutes to play. The Colonels would lead by no less than seven the rest of the game.

Junior Joshua Jones and senior Spencer Perrin contributed with 15 and 10 points, respectively. Junior Jaron Jones came off the bench to record a team-high seven rebounds.

The Colonels shot 45.5 percent (25-of-55) from the field and held the Redhawks to 43.6 percent (17of-39) from the field, improving to 8-1 in games in which they shoot better than their opponent.

Anthony Allison paced a balanced SEMO scoring attack with 12 points, while Cameron Butler recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Sparked by a pair of early three-pointers from freshman Jeff Johnson, the Colonels shot well out of the gate and enjoyed a comfortable 11 point lead, 22-11, with 8:11 remaining in the first half. A three-pointer by Marland Smith with 6:05 on the clock turned the tides, though, as SEMO slowly clawed back into the game. Allison led the comeback, scoring six points in the last two minutes and converting a pair of free throws with under a minute to play that brought the Redhawks to within three, 27-24, at halftime.

The Colonels held onto their lead until two more free throws by Allison tied it, 36-36, just over five minutes into the second half. But, again, it was Daniel responding for EKU as he drained a three and hit a layup to spark a 6-0 run that gave the Colonels some breathing room, making it 42-36 with 12:11 on the clock. The Redhawks would take their first lead of the game nearly six minutes later on Powell’s layup.

EKU returns to action on Tuesday when the Colonels face future OVC opponent SIU Edwardsville at 8 p.m. ET in Edwardsville. EKU defeated SIUE at home, 81-65, on Nov. 17.