CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri (2-4) nearly overcame a 16-point deficit in a 77-70 loss to North Carolina Central (3-5) Sunday afternoon at the Show Me Center.
 
SEMO trailed, 54-38, with a little over 15 minutes left in the game and later used a 13-2 run to pull to within a point.
 
After Reggie Garner Jr. made a free throw to put NCCU ahead, 57-45, at the 12:10 mark the Redhawks scored 13 of the next 15 points. SEMO forced four turnovers and scored eight of its points at the free throw line during that stretch. Ledarrius Brewer's two free throws closed the Eagles lead to 59-58 with 8:44 remaining.
 
Brewer missed a shot for the lead 40 seconds later and Denzel Mahoney turned the ball over before Pablo Rivas buried a 3-pointer at the 7:30 mark. Rasean Davis converted a 3-point play and followed that up with a layup to push NCCU's lead to 67-59.
 
Daniel Simmons, who scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half, scored a layup to make it, 73-70, with 38 seconds on the clock. The Eagles then made four free throws to finish off the 77-70 win.
 
"We have to figure out a way to beat quality teams," said SEMO head coach Rick Ray. "We are such a young and inexperienced team, and sometimes our immaturity shows."
 
NCCU led for the final 31:18 of the game and shot a blazing 72 percent on two-point baskets in the first half alone.
 
Tied, 18-18, with 11:35 to go in the first half, the Eagles went on a 10-2 run. SEMO missed five field goals and turned the ball over twice in a 3:56 scoreless stretch. Donnie Lewis' first career point, a free throw, ended the drought with 7:39 remaining.
 
The Redhawks fell behind, 41-32, at the half.
 
In his first career start, freshman Justin Carpenter recorded a double-double 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead SEMO. Carpenter shot 5-of-10 from the field and 3-of-5 at the free throw line. He also had four offensive boards.
 
Mahoney and Simmons added 15 points apiece. All of Mahoney's points came in the first half as he went 0-of-8 from the field in the game's final 20 minutes.
 
Simmons played 26 minutes off the bench, making 4-of-9 field goals and 6-of-8 free throws.
 
SEMO outrebounded NCCU, 42-34, and grabbed 15 offensive rebounds. The Redhawks shot just 34.9 percent (22-of-63) from the floor.
 
Davis led the Eagles with a double-double 20 points and 10 boards. Jordan Perkins followed with 13 points, C.J. Wiggins contributed 11 and Gardner chipped in 10.
 
NCCU shot 55.2 percent from the field in the first half and 51.9 percent (28-of-54) for the game.
 
The Redhawks close out their brief two-game homestand when they host NAIA member Hannibal-LaGrange Tuesday.