DURHAM, N.C. – Freshman Justin Carpenter scored a season-high 20 points to lead five players in double figures as Southeast Missouri (4-4) beat North Carolina Central (4-6), 86-77, for its first true road victory Saturday.
 
SEMO and NCCU met for the second time in six days on the back end of a home-and-home series. NCCU entered the game with a record of 84-20 in its last 104 games on its homecourt, but this night belonged to the Redhawks.
 
SEMO built a 14-7 lead in the first 6:16 of the game. Milos Vranes knocked down a 3-pointer and Carpenter followed with a layup to grab the Redhawks the early advantage. Jonathan Dalton's layup ended the run with 13:44 left to play.
 
Ahead, 35-28, with less than two minutes remaining in the first half, Isaiah Gable buried his second 3-pointer off the bench to give SEMO its first double-digit lead at 38-28.
 
NCCU used a 7-0 run to pull to within three, 38-35, at the half.
 
Carpenter scored 11 points and did not miss a field goal in 11 minutes during the first half. It marked the second time Carpenter reached double figures in the first half this season.
 
With Denzel Mahoney on the bench with three fouls, SEMO went on a 10-0 run after Raasean Davis completed a conventional 3-point play to tie the game at 38-38 at the 18:22 mark of the second half.
 
Vranes started the run with a layup and then blocked a shot. Carpenter rebound Vranes' block and pitched the ball ahead to Ledarrius Brewer for a breakaway dunk. Carpenter followed with back-to-back layups before another Brewer slam ended the surge, giving the Redhawks a 48-38 lead with 15:11 to go.
 
SEMO built its largest lead at 11 points on six occasions before sending NCCU to its sixth loss.
 
Carpenter finished a perfect 8-of-8 from the floor and pulled down a team-high six rebounds. It was Carpenter's third double-digit scoring game.
 
Mahoney followed with 19 points on 5-of-9 field goals and 8-of-11 free throws. Brewer added 12 points, while Vranes and Daniel Simmons each added 10.
 
Gable buried a game-high three 3-pointers in 12 minutes off the bench, as well.
 
SEMO matched a season-best 10 three-pointers going 10-of-16 from beyond the arc for a sizzling 62.5 percent. It was the first time the Redhawks shot over 60 percent from 3-point range in a game since Dec. 1, 2013 (vs. Texas State). In addition, SEMO shot 56 percent for the second time this season and outrebounded its opponent for the sixth game in a row.
 
Reggie Gardner, Jr., topped NCCU with 26 points, including 11 at the free throw line. Pablo Riva turned in a double-double 19 points and 12 rebounds.
 
SEMO dressed nine players against NCCU tonight. Dondre Duffus and Mark Laros did not make the trip. Duffus was recently cleared to play after missing three weeks due to a medical procedure, while Laros is expected to be out at least three weeks after being diagnosed with mononucleosis.
 
The Redhawks host UMKC on Dec. 6. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m., CT, at the Show Me Center.