Recap: SE Missouri St vs. Eastern Ky

Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Marland Smith scored 20 points to lead the fifth-seeded Southeast Missouri State Redhawks as they advanced with their 75-65 victory over the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament at Municipal Auditorium.

Tyler Stone provided a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Redhawks (15-15), who will face Tennessee Tech in the quarterfinal round on Thursday. Leon Powell also had a double-double as he scored 12 points and grabbed 14 boards. Lucas Nutt handed out 11 assists in the victory.

Jaron Jones scored a game-high 28 points for the eighth seeded-EKU (16-16), while Joshua Jones netted 17 points. The Colonels last win in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament came in 2007.

SEMO held a 38-28 advantage at the intermission after it hit 51.5 percent of its field goals in the opening period. The Colonels fell behind after they shot only 34.5 percent from the floor in the first half.

Although EKU heated up after the break and shot 45.5 percent from the field to attempt a second half rally, the Redhawks converted 16-of-29 from the charity stripe in the final 20 minutes to hang on for the victory.

SEMO earned a 44-33 advantage in the rebounding battle to push towards the victory.