ST. LOUIS – Southeast Missouri (0-1) scored 41 points in a furious second half rally to give Preseason Atlantic 10 Conference favorite Saint Louis (1-0) a scare in a 75-65 season-opening loss Tuesday night at Chaifetz Arena.
 
SEMO trailed by as many as 22 points and was down, 40-26, at halftime before rallying to win the game's final 20 minutes.
 
The Redhawks heated up to shoot 55.2 percent (16-of-29) from the field and outscored the Billikens, 41-35, in the second half.
 
Down, 65-53, with 1:35 remaining, Ledarrius Brewer cut SLU's lead to single digits when he buried a 3-pointer. 
 
Jordan Goodwin regained a 10-point advantage (66-56) for the Billikens when he split two free throws 13 seconds later. SLU would then miss six free throws in the final 1:22.
 
Skyler Hogan scored a layup off an assist from Alex Caldwell to make it a two-possession game at 68-62 with under a minute to go.
 
After Javon Bess split a pair of free throws, Gabe McGlothan made a jumper to bring the Redhawks to within five, 69-64, with 45 seconds on the clock.
 
Seven seconds later, Caldwell was at the free throw line for a two-shot foul and made 1-of-2 attempts as SEMO remained behind by five (70-65).
 
SLU, however, managed to sink five of its final six free throws over the last 34 seconds to hang on.
 
In the first half, SEMO fell victim to a 12-2 run and went without a basket for a period of 3:22. 
 
Tied, 5-5, early on, the Billikens scored 12 of the next 14 points to build a 17-7 advantage. Tremaine Isabell scored on a fast break off a SEMO turnover to cap the surge with 13:29 remaining.
 
Brewer knocked down a 3-pointer for SEMO's first field goal in over five minutes cutting SLU's lead to single digits (19-10). Isaiah Gable then buried a 3-pointer of his own to cut the lead to nine again before SLU outscored SEMO, 14-7, to take a 40-24 lead at the intermissioin.
 
Brewer and Caldwell led the Redhawks with 18 and 14 points, respectively. Brewer topped SEMO with seven boards. Caldwell added a team-high four assists.
 
Isaiah Gable, Sage Tolbert and Skyler Hogan each made their first career starts for the Redhawks tonight. Gable had six points, Tolbert contributed seven points and five rebounds, and Hogan scored four points.
 
SLU put four players in double figures with Isabell and Bess each scoring 18. D.J. Foreman followed with 12 and Goodwin pitched in 11. Hasahn French pulled down a game high 12 rebounds.
 
The Billikens shot just 16 percent (4-of-25) from 3-point range and missed 14 free throws, including 13 in the second half.
 
SEMO opened a season on the road for the 12^th time in 13 years and dropped to 10-18 all-time in season-opening games as an NCAA Division I program.
 
The Redhawks travel to Missouri Valley Conference member Bradley on Nov. 10.