Click here for official box score!

RICHMOND, Ky. – Seniors Josh Daniel, Spencer Perrin and Justin Stommes combined for 54 points as the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team pulled away from Southeast Missouri in the second half and defeated the Redhawks, 77-64, Thursday night in McBrayer Arena.

Perrin scored 14 of his 20 points and grabbed five of his team-high nine rebounds to lead the Colonels in the first half. Stommes took over in the second half, connecting on four three-pointers and scoring 18 of his 20 in the final 20 minutes of play. Daniel, meanwhile, contributed with 14 points.

Leading by only three at halftime, EKU (14-11, 8-6 OVC) shot 64 percent (16-of-25) from the field and 75 percent (6-of-8) from deep in the second half. The Colonels’ efficient and balanced performance was illustrated by a season-low seven turnovers and 15 three-point attempts.

Leon Powell and Anthony Allison both scored 16 points to lead the way for the Redhawks (7-18, 5-9).

Neither team pulled away in a back-and-forth first half. SEMO took its largest lead, 17-13, following a Marland Smith free throw with 9:34 on the clock. However, freshman Jabs Newby came off the bench to rally Eastern with a baseline dunk and consecutive assists, making it 31-24 in favor of the Colonels with 1:40 remaining. The Redhawks tallied the last four points of the half to pull back within three at halftime, 31-28.

EKU used an 11-2 run early in the second half to finally break away. A jumper by junior Joshua Jones gave the Colonels their first double-digit lead, 45-34, with 14:03 left in the game. A barrage of three-pointers by Stommes and junior Jeff Allgood then ballooned EKU’s advantage to 64-43 with 7:29 on the clock and quelled any chance of a SEMO comeback.

Eastern Kentucky has now defeated Southeast Missouri in seven straight meetings dating back to 2008.

The Colonels continue OVC play on Saturday when they host Eastern Illinois at 7 p.m.