CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.– Southeast Missouri (4-14, 0-5) fell into a deep hole early and couldn't recover in an 84-59 loss to Ohio Valley Conference co-leader Austin Peay (11-7, 5-0) Thursday.
 
SEMO hit another long scoreless drought in the first half that led to APSU building a 40-21 halftime lead.
 
The Governors used a 25-3 run and scored 17 unanswered points when the Redhawks didn't score for over nine minutes. Shots just wouldn't go down for SEMO which missed 13 field goals during that stretch.
 
Isaiah Gable's layup ended the drought with 3:03 left in the first half.
 
SEMO missed 21 of its 30 field goals and shot just 30 percent in the first half, while APSU shot 62.5 percent (15-of-24) and received 20 points from Preseason OVC Player of the Year Terry Taylor.
 
Unfortunately for the Redhawks, APSU didn't cool off much in the second half going 56.7 percent (17-of-30) from the floor. The Governors, who led by as many as 29, wound up shooting 59.3 percent (32-of-54) for the night.
 
Freshman DQ Nicholas led SEMO with 16 points and Nygal Russell added 12 off the bench. The Redhawks, like APSU, shot over 54 percent (54.5) in the second half with five 3-pointers.
 
Taylor shot 9-of-15 from the field and 6-of-8 at the free throw line to lead three Governors in double figures. He also had nine rebounds, four assists, one steal and a block.
 
Carlos Paez, who had a game-high eight assists added 15 points and Jordyn Adams chipped in 11.
 
APSU outrebounded SEMO, 36-29, and held a 42-18 advantage inside the paint.
 
The Governors completed a two-game sweep of the Redhawks in the first three weeks of the conference season.
 
SEMO, which has dropped five in a row and 10 of its last 11, concludes its four-game home stand against Murray State Saturday.