Southeast Missouri State University Athletics

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Antonius Cleveland scored a career-high 25 points and Southeast Missouri (0-9) gave Ole Miss (7-2) all it could handle in a 75-64 loss Saturday afternoon at the Show Me Center.
 
Ole Miss was the first Southeastern Conference opponent to play at the Show Me Center. Today also marked the first time an SEC school played a basketball game on an Ohio Valley Conference campus in 22 years.
 
"I was proud of the way our guys competed the way they did," said Southeast head coach Rick Ray. "Our guys started to follow through with their assignments and we had a much better pace that allowed us to attack more."
 
Southeast started strong scoring the first six points of the game to grab its
biggest lead. Cleveland made two free throws, while Joel Angus III scored a layup and knocked down a pair of free throws in a 2:48 span.
 
After Isiah Jones tied things up at 19-19, Ole Miss went on a 16-6 run in the final 7:23 of the first half to take a 35-25 lead at the break.
 
The Redhawks shot 50 percent (13-of-26) from the field in the second half.
 
Ole Miss ended a 3:45 scoreless drought when Stefan Moody simply took matters into his own hands.
 
Immediately after Cleveland's jumper made it a 48-45 game, Moody buried a pair of free throws at the 7:47 mark. He then added two more free throws and a layup before knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers.
 
Two possessions later, Moody buried another 3-pointer to push the Rebels lead to 63-52 with 3:51 left to play.
 
Southeast managed to get within six points three times in the final 1:56, but Ole Miss answered with a basket on each of those occasions. The Rebels scored six points in the last 58 seconds to polish off their 75-64 win.
 
Moody, who leads the SEC in scoring, shot 8-of-21 from the field with 12 of his points coming from 3-point range. He had 19 points on 5-of-11 field goals and a perfect 6-of-6 free throws in the second half alone.
 
Tomasz Gielo followed with 10 points, while Marcanvis Hymon (14) and Sebastian Saiz (11) each finished with double-digit rebounds to pace Ole Miss.
 
The Rebels shot just 34.7 percent (26-of-75) from the field and outrebounded Southeast, 53-36. Ole Miss held a 19-5 advantage on the offensive glass.
 
Cleveland, who also led Southeast with eight rebounds and shot 8-of-11 at the free throw line, was one of three Redhawk starters in double figures. Jones and Trey Kellum contributed 15 and 10 points, respectively. Jones tied a season-high three 3-pointers and dished out a career-high eight assists, as well.
 
Southeast shot 41.2 percent (21-of-51) from the field.
 
The Redhawks and Rebels played in a nationally televised game on the American Sports Network.
 
"I appreciate the support of our fans," said Ray. "Our fan base gave us energy and we need that at this point in time."
 
Southeast breaks for final exams before traveling to Northern Kentucky on Dec. 19.