COLUMBUS, Ohio– Southeast Missouri (3-8) shot a season-low 26.7 percent in an 80-48 loss to #5 Ohio State (10-1) Tuesday night at Value City Arena.
 
OSU, the highest ranked opponent SEMO has faced, limited the Redhawks to 16-of-60 field goals and 4-of-19 (.211) from 3-point range. 
 
The Buckeyes lead the nation in scoring margin (+22.3) and rank sixth in the country in field goal percentage defense (.354), and the Redhawks simply ran into a buzz saw.
 
SEMO started the game strong by forcing 13 turnovers in the first half, including 11 in the opening nine minutes of the contest.
 
The Redhawks managed to get ahead of the Buckeyes, 16-12, when Ohio native Isaiah Gable buried a 3-pointer with 9:39 remaining.
 
After that, SEMO hit a cold spell and OSU took advantage.
 
The Redhawks went over eight minutes (8:06) without a field goal and OSU went on a 13-1 run to take a 25-17 lead. SEMO missed 11 of its last 13 field goals in the first half and trailed, 35-26, at the intermission.
 
The shooting woes continued for the Redhawks in the second half, where they missed 14 of their first 15 shots. OSU again capitalized, this time with a 24-4 run to blow the game open. 
 
OSU turned the ball over 21 times, but SEMO scored just three points off those miscues.
 
Freshman DQ Nicholas and Gable each scored 10 points to lead the Redhawks. 
 
SEMO also made 12-of-14 free throws for 85.7 percent.
 
Kaleb Wesson turned in a double-double 18 points and 10 rebounds. Wesson limped off the court after he was shaken up in the first half, but returned to lead the Buckeyes.
 
Andre Wesson followed with 14 points, while Kyle Young and D.J. Carton pitched in 10 apiece.
 
OSU drained 13 three-pointers and outrebounded SEMO 44-25.
 
The Redhawks head to longtime rival Southern Illinois for their final game before the Christmas holiday on Dec. 21. That game also marks the end of SEMO's rugged eight-game road trip that covered 6,824 miles across six different states (California, Texas, Ohio, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana).