CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri (1-0) made 19-of-21 free throws and that was the difference in the game as the Redhawks pulled out a 81-69 season-opening victory over Missouri Baptist Friday.
 
SEMO, which opened a season at home for the first time in 12 years, snapped an 11-game losing streak in season-openers. The Redhawks also posted their 26^th-straight win against non-Division I opponents.
 
"I was pleased with the outcome, but not with our defense," said SEMO head coach Rick Ray. "I think we are really good when the ball is popping and moving through the air. We have to help our guys schematically and get better defensively."
 
The Redhawks fell behind by six points in the first 2:33 of the game. Jonathan Dalton's 3-pointer gave SEMO its first lead of the season at 10-9 with 14:03 remaining and the Redhawks never looked back.
 
Dalton's trey ignited an 18-8 surge as SEMO pulled ahead by double-digits. Ledarrius Brewer's 3-pointer gave the Redhawks a 28-17 advantage at the 4:37 mark.
 
SEMO later headed into the locker room ahead, 37-27.
 
The Redhawks edged the Spartans, 44-42, in the second half and knocked down 12-of-13 free throws.
 
SEMO opened the second stanza on a 9-2 run and took its biggest lead of the night when Denzel Mahoney's jumper made it 48-31 with just under 15 minutes left.
 
Mahoney led all scorers with 21 points and went a perfect 11-of-11 at the free throw line. He shot 5-of-9 from the field, dished out one assist and also had a block in 32 minutes.
 
Brewer followed with 14 points, three assists and two steals in 26 minutes off the bench. He knocked down three of SEMO's eight 3-pointers.
 
Daniel Simmons and Jonathan Dalton added 13 and 11 points, respectively. Tonight marked Simmons' first career start. Dalton finished with a game-high seven assists, as well.
 
In addition, Mark Laros narrowly missed a double-double in his first career start with nine points and nine rebounds.
 
Jahmouri Robinson led Missouri Baptist with 14 points.
 
SEMO and Missouri Baptist each shot 50 percent from the field. The Spartans, however, shot just 56.5 percent (13-of-23) at the free throw line compared to the Redhawks sizzling 90.5 percent clip.
 
The Redhawks improved to a perfect 18-0 all-time against Missouri Baptist. This year marked the first time these teams met since Nov. 19, 1990.
 
SEMO hits the road for its next four games as part of the Cancun Challenge. The Redhawks travel to Louisiana Tech on Nov. 13, head to Evansville Nov. 16 and then to Cancun, Mexico to face both Cal State Northridge (Nov. 21) and either Binghamton or Montana State (Nov. 22).