CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.– Freshman DQ Nicholas scored a game-high 24 points, but Southeast Missouri (1-2) came up short in a 74-69 loss to The Citadel (1-3) Tuesday night at the Show Me Center.
 
Nicholas made a layup to get SEMO within one (71-70) with 19 seconds left to play. 
 
After Kaelon Harris split a pair of free throws, the Redhawks had possession down three when Nicholas turned the ball over seven seconds later.
 
Harris then made two more free throws to secure the win for the Bulldogs.
 
Nicholas scored 17 of his points in the second half, where the Redhawks outscored The Citadel, 37-34, after trailing, 40-32, at the half.
 
SEMO, however went 0-of-7 from 3-point range in the game's final 20 minutes and wound up shooting just 19 percent (4-of-21) for the game.
 
Meanwhile, The Citadel scored 33 of its points from beyond the arc on 11-of-25 attempts, including 4-of-6 in the second half.
 
SEMO and The Citadel, which met for the second time on the back end of a home-and-home series, battled to three ties and five lead changes.
 
Skyler Hogan's layup made it a 25-23 game with 6:02 remaining in the first half, but the Bulldogs answered with a 15-6 run to take a 40-29 lead.
 
A layup by Kaiden Rice gave The Citadel its biggest lead at 57-44 with just under 14 minutes left in the second half. 
 
SEMO then managed to get within two twice in the final 1:07 before taking its second loss of the season.
 
Nicholas shot 9-of-16 from the field and hit a near-perfect 5-of-6 free throws, while grabbing six rebounds in 29 minutes. 
 
Hogan followed with 11 points and five boards. Nicholas (6) and Hogan (3) combined for nine of the Redhawks 19 turnovers.
 
Harris had a double-double 20 points and 12 rebounds to pave the way for The Citadel. Rice also added 20 points and made a game-high four 3-pointers.
 
SEMO closes out its three-game home stand against NCAA Division II member Missouri S&T on Nov. 22.