EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Southeast Missouri (2-3) lost in overtime for the third time in four games when it fell to Missouri Valley Conference member Evansville (2-3), 66-63, Tuesday night at the Ford Center.
UE trailed, 54-48, with 2:50 left to play when it scored eight of the final 10 points of regulation to tie the game at 56-56. Jawaun Newton made two free throws with 21 seconds left to tie the game.
In overtime, SEMO led 63-61 after
Jordan Love spit a pair of free throws with 18 seconds on the clock. On the ensuing possession, Shamar Givance made a layup and was fouled with one second remaining. Givance made the free throw to complete the 3-point play and give the Purple Aces the win.
SEMO led by no more than six points in the game before suffering its third overtime loss in five games this season.
Nana Akenten,
Nate Johnson and
Eric Reed, Jr. combined for 18 of SEMO's 26 points in a low scoring first half.
UE scored the first five points of the game before the Redhawks answered with a 13-2 run to take a six-point lead.
Jordan Love capped the run when he got his shot to fall in the lane giving SEMO a 13-7 advantage with 13:33 remaining.
SEMO later led, 18-17, when Reed, Jr. knocked down a 3-pointer from the left corner to snap a seven-minute drought where the Redhawks went without a field goal. Reed, Jr. followed that up with his own jumper to give SEMO another six-point cushion at 23-17 at the 4:28 mark.
The Purple Aces then scored seven of the final 10 points of the first half to close SEMO's lead to 26-24 at intermission. The Redhawks headed into the locker room with a halftime lead for the fourth time in five games this season.
Reed, Jr. came off the bench to lead SEMO with 16 points on 6-of-11 field goals. Three of his made field goals came from 3-point range. Akenten followed with 14 points and a game-high 4-of-4 from long range.
Nolan Taylor narrowly missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds.
SEMO shot 41.8 percent (23-of-55) from the field and a season-high 50 percent (8-of-16) from 3-point land. The Redhawks turned the ball over 16 times and outrebounded the Purple Aces, 41-32.
Givance led all scorers with 20 points, while Newton contributed 15. UE also made eight 3-pointers, but only at a 34.8 percent clip (8-of-23). Noah Friderking rounded out the Purple Aces double-digit scorers with 11 points.
The Redhawks, who lost their last two games by a combined nine points, opens Ohio Valley Conference play against UT Martin Friday. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m., CT at the Show Me Center.
