In Evansville, Indiana, Southeast Missouri State clinched a decisive victory over Little Rock with a score of 78-59 in the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament on Friday. Rob Martin was the standout player, scoring 21 points, which significantly contributed to the top-seeded Redhawks’ win. The victory paves the way for Southeast Missouri State to vie for the conference championship on Saturday, where they will face the winner of the matchup between second-seeded SIU-Edwardsville and third-seeded Tennessee State.
Martin demonstrated his scoring prowess by making 8 of his 15 field goal attempts, including a 1-for-4 performance from beyond the arc, and a nearly perfect 4-for-5 from the free-throw line. The Redhawks (21-11) also saw strong support from Troy Cole Jr., who scored 17 points, successfully shooting 6 of his 9 field goal attempts and making 2 of 3 from three-point range. Additionally, Cole scored 3 of 4 from the line and pulled down five rebounds. TJ Biel contributed 13 points, notably maintaining a spotless 4-for-4 shooting from the field and hitting 3 of his 4 free throws. The team’s triumph marked their 11th consecutive win.
On the opposing side, the Trojans (19-14) were led by Creed Williamson, who tallied 20 points for Little Rock. Johnathan Lawson chipped in with 11 points, while Mwani Wilkinson added 10 points and grabbed two steals. The game saw Southeast Missouri State take over the lead with 10 minutes to go in the first half; they maintained their momentum, with Cole driving the offensive with 12 points that helped secure a 40-29 lead at halftime.
In the second half, the Redhawks further extended their lead to 69-47 through a pivotal 13-2 run. Biel took charge in the latter half, scoring a team-best 10 points, ensuring the team’s victory as the game concluded.
