Box Score I McHale Postgame Interview I Avare Postgame Interview I Mayo Postgame Interview

RICHMOND, Ky. – Senior Dillon Avare capped off Senior Night by recording a game-sealing block with 11 seconds left to secure the Eastern Kentucky men's basketball team's 91-88 victory over Southeast Missouri State on Thursday night at McBrayer Arena.
 
It was the first block of Avare's four-year college career, and it helped keep EKU's (11-19, 5-12 OVC) postseason hopes alive.
 
After a three-pointer by SEMO's Ledarrius Brewer cut the Colonels' lead to 86-85 with 25 seconds remaining, the Redhawks sent JacQuess Hobbs to the line to shoot two free throws. The freshman nailed both attempts to extend the lead to three points, leaving SEMO only 20 seconds to respond.
 
Struggling to find an open shooter, Ray Kowalski attempted to tie the game, but Avare rushed in from behind to record the clutch block. The Redhawks fouled and sent Dujuanta Weaver to the line, where he went 2-for-2.
 
SEMO, however, would not let the Colonels walk away with the win easily, quickly sprinting down the court for Brewer to hit another three-pointer with just five seconds on the clock. The Colonels went back to the line after a foul and hit 1-of-2 attempts. A desperation heave from half court by SEMO missed right.
 
The Colonels were led by Nick Mayo's 25 points and team-high nine rebounds. Hobbs, Weaver and DeAndre Dishman had double digit scoring efforts with 16, 12 and 14 points, respectively. Eastern forced 15 turnovers and recorded a game-high six blocks.
 
Denzel Mahoney scored a game-high 26 points for SEMO and hit all seven of his attempts from the free throw line. Brewer contributed 16 points and 8 rebounds, while Daniel Simmons notched 12 points and a team-high nine boards.
 
Southeast Missouri knocked down 16 three-pointers in the loss.
 
The lead changed hands 13 times throughout the game.
 
SEMO (14-16, 8-9 OVC) led by as many as 15, 41-26, in the first half, thanks to 8-of-11 shooting from behind the arc in the early going; however, the Colonels used an 8-0 run to pull back to within seven, 41-34, with 3:35 left. Mayo then spearheaded a 9-2 EKU run in the closing minutes of the first half to cut the Eastern deficit to three, 46-43, at the break.
 
Avare got Eastern rolling quickly in the second half, nailing a right-corner three-pointer to tie the game 46-all. A free throw by Dishman made it a five-point EKU lead, 54-49, with just over 15 minutes to play.
 
The two teams traded baskets over the next ten minutes, with the Redhawks battling out to a 78-76 advantage with five minutes left. Hobbs and Dishman fueled a 9-0 run over the next four minutes to get the Colonels back out in front for the final time.
 
Eastern Kentucky heads north to take on Morehead State in the regular season finale on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.