CANCUN, Mexico. – Southeast Missouri (2-3) shot a season-best 56.9 percent from the field and received a season-high 27 points from Denzel Mahoney in an 88-82 loss to Montana State (4-2) Wednesday in the Mayan Division title game of the Cancun Challenge.
 
Mahoney made 10-of-14 field goals and 6-of-8 free throws en route to his third 20-plus point game in five starts this year.
 
However, it wasn't enough, as MSU got even a bigger performance from Tyler Hall. Hall finished with a game-high 34 points and dropped in all eight his team's 3-pointers. MSU also made eight-straight free throws down the stretch and 16 of its final 17 of the game.
 
SEMO trailed for all but 1:38 of the game. The Redhawks did not take their first lead until the 9:55 mark of the second half when Milos Vranes' layup gave them a slight 58-57 edge.
 
A Mahoney jumper put SEMO ahead, 60-59, less than a minute later, but that was the last lead for the Redhawks.
 
In the final eight minutes, SEMO managed to make it a one-possession game a total of five times. But, MSU buried free throws to pull away.
 
Both teams shot at least 50 percent from the field and MSU led the entire first half behind Hall's 21 points. Hall set the tone early for the Bobcats knocking down five 3-pointers and hitting 8-of-12 from the floor.
 
Hall buried a 3-pointer to extend MSU's lead to double figures and Keljin Blevins followed with a layup giving the Bobcats a 29-17 advantage with 7:21 left to play.
 
The Redhawks answered with an 11-3 run and freshman Justin Carpenter scored five of those points to key the surge. Carpenter's free throw made it a 32-28 game at the 2:29 mark.
 
MSU later pulled ahead, 41-34, at halftime. Mahoney and Carpenter led SEMO with 10 and seven points, respectively, in the first half.
 
Jonathan Dalton and Daniel Simmons joined Mahoney in double figures for the Redhawks. Dalton and Simmons followed with 12 points apiece. Carpenter added nine points and eight boards, while Dalton finished with six assists, as well.
 
Hall shot 11-of-19 from the field, 8-of-15 from 3-point range and a perfect 4-of-4 at the free throw line to lead MSU. He also had four rebounds and one block in 36 minutes.
 
SEMO and MSU combined for 50 fouls and shot a combined 60 free throws. The Redhawks outscored the Bobcats, 48-47, in the second half and scored more than 80 points for the second time this year. Additionally, SEMO scored 44 points in the paint.
 
Mahoney and freshman Ledarrius Brewer were named to the Mayan Division Cancun Challenge All-Tournament Team.
 
SEMO returns home to host North Carolina Central Sunday. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m., CT, at the Show Me Center.