For 16 minutes, the Effingham Hearts played right with Mahomet-Seymour.
But it was a different story in the second half.
The visiting Bulldogs knocked down six three-pointers in the third quarter to take control of the game. They outscored the Hearts 36-12 in that period, en route to a 79-46 victory.
Rylan Pals connected on a pair of shots from behind the arc and the Hearts made 8-of-10 free throws in the first eight minutes and were tied 16-16. KJ Kellams hit another three and Ethan Jones scored five points in the second quarter, and EHS trailed by just three, 29-26, at intermission.
But Mahomet-Seymour caught on fire in the third period. Jackson Bohn hit a three and scored 11 points and teammate Miles Woosley hit a pair of shots from long range and added 10 points, helping the Bulldogs go on the 36-12 run and build a 65-38 lead heading into the final quarter.
Bohn finished with 20 points and Woosley scored 14. Kellams and Hayden Wendling led Effingham with nine points each.
The Hearts dipped to 3-24 overall and 1-7 in the Apollo Conference. They will play Tuesday at Charleston.