Feb. 14, 2008

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By Tyler Koonce, Assistant Men's Basketball Contact

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Eastern Illinois defeated Southeast Missouri State, 90-70 , Thursday night at the Show Me Center. The Redhawks (12-15, 7-10) shot only 33% from the field while the Panthers (5-20, 4-13) connected on 62% of their attempts.

Eastern Illinois led by 11 at 43-11 at halftime behind a 64% shooting from the field and 75% from three-point range. Bobby Catchings led with 13 points. Jake Byrne and Tyler Laser each scored nine during the initial 20 minutes.

Southeast was paced in the first half by Kenard Moore with nine points, all coming from behind the arc. He was 3-6 from three-point range at the intermission. As a team, the Redhawks shot 13-15 from the free throw line in the first half.

Moore quickly added back-to-back treys during the first two minutes of the second half, but Southeast would never trim the margin to less than five points. Moore finished tied for the game-high with 18 points, going 6-14 from behind the arc. Roderick Pearson also reached double figures, chipping in 10. Michael Rembert scored eight points and tied for the game-lead with seven rebounds.

Byrne led Eastern with 18 points and seven rebounds of his own on 8-12 shooting. Catchings scored 17 while Julio Anthony and Gino Myers-Kyles added 15 each. Laser finished with 12 points.

The Redhawks return to play on Saturday as they travel to Tennessee-Martin for a 6 p.m. tipoff. Wednesday they will make the trip to Ypsilanti, Mich., to take on Eastern Michigan in the ESPNU BracketBuster.