CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Denzel Mahoney turned in a double-double 22 points and 11 rebounds, and freshman Ledarrius Brewer had 16 points to lead Southeast Missouri (7-8, 1-1) to its first Ohio Valley Conference win with a 77-65 victory over Tennessee State (5-8, 0-2) Sunday.
 
Mahoney recorded the first double-double of his career and scored double figures in his 12^th-straight start. Brewer contributed his second-consecutive double-digit effort in league play and really set the tone for the Redhawks early.
 
"I was pleased with the way our guys responded after a dismal performance against Belmont," said SEMO head coach Rick Ray. "We had a lot of guys give great individual defensive performances to help get us this win."
 
SEMO overcame a slow start with a big second half to put an end to its season-long four-game losing streak.
 
The Redhawks made five of their first seven field goals to start the final period and went on a 21-3 run after TSU pulled to within five points on two Darreon Reddick free throws with 11:22 left to play.
 
SEMO scored eight of its points at the free throw line during that surge with six in a row coming from Mahoney after a wild play.
 
Christian Mekowulu and Mahoney each went for the ball following a missed layup by Mekowulu and were tied up along the baseline underneath the Tigers basket. Some extracurricular activity ensued resulting in Armani Chaney being whistled for a personal foul and both Mekowulu and Ken'Darrius Hamilton each being issued technical fouls.
 
Mahoney went to the free throw line to shoot six free throws once things were sorted out. He made all six of his attempts stretching the Redhawks lead to 66-44 with 7:17 on the clock.
 
"I have never seen a guy make six free throws in a row without the possession changing," commented Ray.
 
Milos Vranes' 3-pointer gave SEMO its biggest lead at 70-46 before the Redhawks finished off the Tigers for good.     
 
Both teams struggled to get shots to fall in the first half.
 
SEMO fell behind by eight points when Delano Spencer drained a 3-pointer to make it a 16-8 game with 9:52 remaining in the opening period.
 
The Redhawks, after missing their first 12 three-pointers of the game, finally got one to fall when Justin Carpenter connected from the top of the arc. Carpenter's 3-pointer pulled SEMO to within one.
 
Vranes and Daniel Simmons followed with 3-pointers on SEMO's next two possessions. Vranes' shot tied the game and Simmons' trey put the Redhawks ahead, 21-18, with 4:09 left. Simmons' make also gave SEMO its first lead since the 11:21 mark in the first half of the Bradley game on Dec. 20.
 
Simmons buried another 3-pointer to give the Redhawks their second three-point lead with 2:12 left before SEMO headed into the locker room with a 29-27 edge, its first halftime advantage in four games. Both the Redhawks and Tigers were a combined 6-of-26 (23 percent) from long range in the first half.
 
Mahoney went 4-of-8 from the field, made a pair of 3-pointers and hit a near-perfect 12-of-13 at the free throw line. Brewer finished with 7-of-18 field goals, six rebounds and three blocks. Carpenter and Vranes also scored double figures with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
 
SEMO tied a season-high 12 three-pointers and attempted a season-high 35 treys. The Redhawks outrebounded the Tigers, 39-27, as well.
 
Defensively, the Redhawks limited Mekowulu to only eight points, three under his season average.
 
"Justin Carpenter and Mark Laros did a great job defending Mekowulu," said Ray.
 
Spencer led the Tigers with 17 points, while Hamilton contributed 12 and Reddick chipped in 11.
 
SEMO hits the road to face rival Murray State on Jan. 4.