Box Score Final Statistics | PDF Version | Antonius Cleveland Alley-Oop Dunk

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri (9-8, 1-3) ended a four-game losing streak and picked up its first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season with a 102-94 victory over Tennessee State (2-16, 1-3) Saturday night at the Show Me Center.
 
Southeast had lost six of seven games prior to facing TSU tonight and needed a big confidence booster. The Redhawks set the tone early and put together another balanced offensive effort en route to their ninth win of the year.

The Redhawks led by as many as 20 points and were in control until the final 2:20 of the game where things suddenly got interesting.

TSU trailed by double figures for the final 11:20 of the first half and first 17:40 of the second stanza before slicing Southeast's lead to seven (94-87) on Jamonte Graham's three-pointer.

After Lucas Nutt's free throw put the Redhawks ahead, 95-89, with 1:49 remaining, M.J. Rhett was fouled and made two free throws to narrow the gap to four.

The Tigers pulled to within four (98-94) again on Jacquan Nobles' free throws with 33 seconds left, but Southeast was able to hold on for the win.

The Redhawks gave up a season-high 55 points in the second half that ultimately led to TSU's late push.

"Our team probably thinks I acted as if we lost," said Southeast head coach Dickey Nutt. "I am pleased we won the game, but we have got to find a way to stop some people."

Southeast's second half scare came after a solid start.

The Redhawks were in a 11-11 tie with 13:21 left to play in the first half before putting together a 19-0 run over the next 4:48.
 
Four different players contributed to the ambush as Jarekious Bradley scored seven points, Antonious Cleveland added five, Tyler Stone dropped in four and Darrian Gray tossed in three.
 
Cleveland's monster dunk off an alley-oop pass by Nutt electrified the home crowd and was quickly followed by a three from Bradley. Cleveland then scored three more points before Bradley's layup capped the run with 8:50 remaining. The Redhawks also forced four turnovers and had three steals during that stretch.
 
Jaleel Query's jumper eventually snapped TSU's scoreless drought and Gray immediately answered with a three to give Southeast its biggest lead at 33-13.
 
A little over a minute later, the Tigers drained a three-pointer on three-consecutive possessions to pull to within 10. Nobles dialed up from long distance and Patrick Miller joined in with back-to-back threes to make it a 35-25 game with 6:23 on the clock. The Redhawks, however, headed into the locker room with a 52-39 advantage.

Five of Southeast's eight players that saw action scored double figures in yet another fine performance by the league's top scoring offense.

Stone led the Redhawks with 27 points and nine rebounds off the bench. He also shot a career-high 10-of-15 at the free throw line and had two blocks in 32 minutes.

"Tyler was the difference-maker," said Nutt. "He hit some big shots, especially at the free throw line."

Bradley followed with 23 points, his league-best 14th game with 20 or more points this season. He made 9-of-14 field goals, pulled down nine rebounds and added 3-of-4 free throws in 38 minutes.

Gray (16), Cleveland (14) and Nutt (11) rounded out Southeast's double-digit scorers. In addition, Nutt dished out a game-high 10 assists for the second points-assists double-double of his career. He needs just 27 more assists to break the Redhawks all-time career record.

Stone and Gray gave Southeast a massive 43-15 lift off the bench.

As a team, Southeast shot a season-high 65.3 percent (32-of-49) from the field and attempted its most free throws in a game this year. The Redhawks went 29-of-43 (67.4 percent) at the charity stripe.

Southeast scored 90 or more points for the second-straight game. As a result, it was the first time the Redhawks scored over 90 points in back-to-back contests since 1997-98. That year, Southeast beat Morehead State, 99-79, and Eastern Kentucky, 97-78, in Cape Girardeau.

Miller finished with a game and career-high 37 points on 12-of-21 field goals, 2-of-6 threes and 11-of-12 free throws. He played 37 minutes.

Nobles also added 23 points and Rhett turned in a double-double 13 points and 10 boards for the Tigers.

TSU heated up to shoot 52.8 percent (19-of-36) in its big second half.

Southeast ended a five-game losing streak in its all-time series against the Tigers.

The Redhawks continue their four-game stretch against OVC East Division opponents when they head to Morehead State on Jan. 16.