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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (9-6, 1-0) fell behind by 15 points, but rallied behind its frontcourt tandem of Tyler Stone and Nino Johnson to pull off a 65-60 victory over UT Martin (3-10, 0-1) Saturday afternoon at the Show Me Center.

Southeast started Ohio Valley Conference play with a win for the second-straight year and improved to 9-13 all-time in league-openers.

Stone paved the way with a game-high 23 points, while Johnson followed with a double-double 15 points and 14 rebounds.

"Nothing we did went good for us today," said Southeast head coach Dickey Nutt. "We were lucky our defense played well to keep things close. I was proud of the way we executed at the end of the game."

After Jeremy Washington's free throws gave the game its fifth tie at 56-56, Stone scored Southeast's next seven points and grabbed the Redhawks a 63-58 advantage with 2:23 left to play.

Myles Taylor quickly responded with a layup to chip the lead to three, but Johnson and Lucas Nutt each made a free throw to secure the win down the stretch.

Southeast overcame a rugged first half, where it shot just 33.3 percent (9-of-27) from the field and 40.9 percent (9-of-22) at the free throw line.

UTM made its first four field goals to ignite a 9-0 run, as Southeast went scoreless for 3:54.

The Skyhawks heated up to shoot 80 percent during that span, with Taylor scoring four points and Justin Childs knocking down a three-pointer to lead the way.

Southeast broke its early drought when Marland Smith made a pair of free throws with 16:06 left to play.

The Redhawks continued to have problems getting shots to fall and UTM took advantage, this time, using a 12-4 surge to extend its lead to 21-6 on Mike Liabo's three-pointer with 9:39 remaining.

Southeast didn't take long to get back in the game, answering with a 16-2 jaunt of its own.

The Skyhawks suddenly went cold, missing 10 field goals and committing three turnovers over the next 6:34 as the Redhawks pulled to within a point.

Johnson scored five consecutive points before Stone's layup narrowed UTM's lead to 23-22 at the 3:45 mark.

Southeast had an opportunity to take the lead in the last 40 seconds of the first half when Nutt made a jumper and was fouled.

Nutt later went to the free throw line to shoot two extra free throws after UTM head coach Jason James was whistled for a technical foul in front of the Skyhawks bench. Nutt managed to hit just one of his three attempts to tie the game at 27-27.

Tobias Dowdell then grabbed an offensive rebound, scored a layup and made a free throw after he was fouled on the play to give UTM a 30-27 edge at the intermission.

Southeast took its first lead of the game on Smith's three-pointer (39-38) with 14:17 left.

Stone sunk 9-of-15 field goals and 5-of-11 free throws en route to his 14th-straight game scoring double figures. He also pulled down nine rebounds and poured in 20 or more points for the third time in his last four starts.

Meanwhile, Johnson turned in his team-high sixth double-double. It marked his fourth double-double in seven starts.

"I thought Tyler took over and made some big shots at the end," commented Nutt. "Nino was also a beast, but he'll tell you he didn't play very well. At the end of the day, it's a win, and we'll take an ugly win any day."

Southeast shot 50 percent (13-of-26) from the field in the second half and finished right at 50 percent (18-of-36) at the free throw line. The Redhawks turned the ball over a season-low seven times for the third game in a row, as well. Nutt, who had no turnovers in 37minutes, has only turned the ball over once in his last three starts.

Taylor scored 14 points and Washington added a double-double 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead UTM. Dowdell also grabbed 10 boards off the bench. The Skyhawks shot 35.4 percent (23-of-65) from the field on the afternoon.

UTM fell to its 18th-consecutive conference loss.

Southeast, which is on a three-game winning streak for the third time this season, continues its homestand when it hosts Austin Peay on Jan. 3. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., CT, at the Show Me Center.