Brewer scores 34, paces Southeast Missouri St. to 80-73 win (Feb 16, 2018)

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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) Freshman Ledarrius Brewer scored 34 points with seven 3-pointers - both career-highs - and Southeast Missouri State jumped ahead early to defeat Eastern Illinois 80-73 Thursday night.

Brewer, 11 of 18 from the floor and 7 of 10 from distance, is the second Southeast Missouri State player to score 30 in a game this season, and the first to make seven 3s in a game since Feb. 28, 2013.

Southeast Missouri State led by 21 late in the first half, but Eastern Illinois mounted a comeback that pulled the Panthers into a 61-61 tie when Mack Smith hit a 35-foot 3-pointer with seven minutes remaining. The Redhawks surged ahead on an 8-2 run, capped by a Milos Vranes 3-pointer from the corner, to lead 69-63 with 3:49 remaining.

Vranes finished with 11 points, Denzel Mahoney added 13 with 10 rebounds for Southeast Missouri State (13-15, 7-8 Ohio Valley Conference).

Montell Goodwin scored 18 to lead Eastern Illinois (9-17, 5-10), Muusa Dama added 17 with 10 rebounds and Smith finished with 15 points.