CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Phillip Russell scored 18 points, while Chris Harris (16) and Nana Akenten (15) combined for 31 points off the bench to lead Southeast Missouri (2-2) to its first home win of the season, a 71-63 victory over Missouri Baptist (5-3).
SEMO overcame a 15-point deficit to get by NAIA member MBU. The Redhawks improved to 20-0 all-time against the Spartans and posted their 31st consecutive win over a non-Division I opponent.
It was a tale of two halves for the Redhawks, who trailed for the majority of the first half before taking control of the final 20 minutes.
Akenten's layup gave SEMO a 45-44 edge with 12:49 left to play, the Redhawks first lead since the 18:16 mark of the first half.
After Jadis White made a layup to regain a 53-51 advantage for MBU, SEMO went on an 8-0 run to build a six-point cushion. Eric Reed, Jr. buried a 3-pointer and Russell got a steal that led to a dunk by Akenten. Harris then converted a 3-point play to widen the Redhawks lead to 59-53.
Akenten, who missed a trey earlier in the possession, knocked down a big 3-pointer off an assist by Harris to push SEMO's lead to 62-55 with 5:24 to go. DQ Nicholas rebounded the ball off Akenten's missed shot from long range.
MBU, which went a stretch of over six minutes without a field goal, managed to narrow the Redhawks lead to three twice in the final 4:13, but that was as close as it would get.
The Spartant stormed out to a 21-6 lead in the first 10 minutes of the contest. MBU pressured SEMO into committing seven turnovers in the opening 8:29.
MBU heated up to make five of its first seven field goals and ran its lead to double-digits (12-2) for the first time when RJ Pair made a 3-pointer with 14:35 remaining in the first half.
After Tyrell Andrews converted a 3-point play to stretch the Spartans lead to 15, SEMO responded with a 16-3 run to get within two. Nygal Russell stole the ball and threw down a dunk to make it a 24-22 game at the 6:53 mark. The steal was one of four for Russell in the opening stanza.
SEMO was one possession away from catching MBU twice more in the final 6:22 of the first half before the Spartans headed into the locker room ahead, 36-31.
Russell put together another strong game shooting 5-of-8 from the field and a flawless 3-of-3 from downtown. He also made 5-of-7 free throws en route to his third-straight double-digit scoring performance. Additionally, Russell collected four steals.
Harris went 4-of-9 from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 at the free throw line. He added a game-high five assists, as well.
Meanwhile, Akenten made a pair of 3-pointers and finished at 6-of-12 from the floor. He also had a game-high three blocks.
Nygal Russell posted six points, six rebounds and four steals in his first start of the season.
SEMO outscored MBU, 40-27, and made 10-of-11 free throws in the second half alone. The Redhawks shot 40.7 percent (22-of-54) from the field for the night.
The Redhawks head to San Antonio, Texas for three games after the Thanksgiving holiday. SEMO will face Incarnate Word (Nov. 26), Portland (Nov. 27) and Montana State (Nov. 28) during that stretch. All games will be played at Incarnate Word's McDermott Center.
