SANTA CLARA, Calif. –  Alex Caldwell scored 16 points to lead five players in double figures, but Southeast Missouri (2-4) dropped an 87-75 decision to Santa Clara (7-1) Friday at the Cable Car Classic.
 
SEMO never led in the game against the tournament host Broncos.
 
Although SEMO edged SC, 45-44, in the second half, the Redhawks couldn't get any closer than six points during the contest.
 
Isaiah Gable scored on a layup to cut the Broncos lead to 53-47 with just under 12 minutes left to play. Skyler Hogan then made a pair of free throws less than a minute later to pull SEMO within six again.
 
After that, SC's lead dipped below double-digits twice the rest of the way.
 
SC jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the first 5:12 of the contest. Kashawn Justice knocked down a 3-pointer off a turnover to cap the early surge for the Broncos.
 
SEMO pulled two within seven three times, but SC answered with a 3-pointer on two of those occasions.
 
The Redhawks went scoreless for the final 2:33 of the first half as SC took a 43-30 lead at the intermission.
 
The Broncos shot 51.7 percent (15-of-29) and got 13 points from Trey Wertz in the first half. Wertz only missed one field goal in the game's first 20 minutes.
 
SC outscored SEMO, 36-12, from 3-point range as the Redhawks finished with no more than four made threes for the fourth time this season.
 
Caldwell shot 6-of-11 from the field and made a perfect 4-of-4 free throws to lead SEMO. Hogan followed with 12 points, while DQ Nicholas added 11 and Gable and Nygal Russell each chipped in 10. 
 
Trey Wertz led all scorers with a game-high 24 points and DJ Mitchell dropped in 20 to top the Broncos. Former Redhawk Tahj Eaddy finished with 12 points as SC shot 55.4 percent (31-of-56) for the game.
 
SEMO concludes play at the Cable Car Classic against Denver Saturday.