Rob Martin scores 27 to lead SEMO to road win over Morehead State

MOREHEAD, Ky. — Southeast Missouri State defeated the Morehead State Eagles 80-51 on the road Thursday, Feb. 6, to remain tied for second place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Rob Martin had a monster game with 27 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including 3 of 6 from beyond the 3-point line and a pair of free throws. BJ Ward scored 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting including 4 of 7 from past the 3-point line.

Morehead State was led by Tyler Brelsford’s 13 points and 11 points from Kenny White Jr. The Eagles shot 16 of 49 from the field, including 2 of 15 from 3-point range, and 17-of-25 free throws.

SEMO shot 34 of 62 from the field, including 8 of 18 from beyond the 3-point line. The Redhawks made 4 of 7 free throws, but an extended time on the charity stripe was unnecessary this time around. The Redhawks also won the rebounding battle 38-28.

The Redhawks jumped ahead 8-2 within the first three minutes of the game after a pair of 3-pointers from Ward. A slam dunk from Troy Cole Jr. capped SEMO’s opening run to 12-4, four minutes into the first half.

Martin was responsible for nine of the Redhawks’ last 11 points in the first half, sending SEMO to halftime leading 38-22.

The Eagles started the second half fast with a 7-2 run through the first three minutes. A jump shot by George Marshall cut SEMO’s lead to 40-29 with 17 minutes remaining in the game.

A slam dunk by David Idada capped SEMO’s 12-3 run to push the Redhawks’ lead to 20 (52-32) with 12:35 remaining.

The Redhawks spent the final four minutes maintaining a 30-point lead. They accomplished that after a 3-pointer by Ward put them up 74-44 with 3:49 remaining, and again on an Elliot Lowndes jump shot with 2:56 left to lead 76-46.

Saxton Hoepker, a JUCO transfer who has spent much of the season on the far end of the bench, found his moment when he punctuated the game with a dunk with 23 seconds left for the 80-51 final score.

SEMO (14-10, 9-4) is now in the middle of a three-way tie for second place with Morehead State and Little Rock. All three are a half-game behind SIU Edwardsville (10-4). The Redhawks will travel to Southern Indiana on Saturday, Feb. 8.