SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Eric Reed, Jr. scored 21 points and made a huge 3-pointer with 11 seconds left to lead Southeast Missouri (1-0) to a 99-94 victory over Missouri State (0-1) Tuesday night in a slugfest at JQH Arena.
In a game with a championship type feel, in-state foes SEMO and MSU went back-and-forth in a matchup that featured 11 ties, nine lead changes and 69 free throws attempted.
"It was a good and fun basketball game," said second-year SEMO Head Coach Brad Korn. "Missouri State is a very good basketball team. We did a really good job sharing the basketball and our guys made the right plays with the ball in their hands. I was proud of our rebounding and transition defense."
MSU, although never leading for the final 15:34 of the game, was either tied or within one or two points several times during that stretch. After Manny Patterson grabbed the rebound off a Reed, Jr. miss, Patterson scored, was fouled and converted a 3-point play to give SEMO an 88-80 lead with 4:41 to go.
Nana Akenten later knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Redhawks ahead by eight again, this time at 95-87 with 1:49 on the clock.
The Bears answered Akenten's three with a 7-1 run and closed SEMO's lead to 96-94 on a 3-pointer by Demarcus Sharp with 42 seconds left.
On SEMO's ensuing possession, Akenten dished to Reed, Jr. who drained a 3-pointer from the right side with 11 seconds remaining before DQ Nicholas stole the ball from Sharp to bury the Bears for good.
The Redhawks started strong out of the gate and shot 53 percent in the first half.
Deadlocked at 29-29, Sikeston native Parker Long came off the bench and drained a 3-pointer to ignite a 10-2 run. Long added another basket before Reed, Jr. scored and Chris Harris knocked down a free throw to stretch SEMO's lead to 39-31 at the 4:45 mark.
After MSU cut the Redhawks lead in half, Nygal Russell and Harris each made a jumper to regain another eight-point lead before SEMO headed entered the intermission ahead, 45-41.
Reed, Jr. led five SEMO players in double figures shooting 6-of-13 from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 at the free throw line. He added a pair of 3-pointers and had two steals, as well.
Harris followed with 19 points, Russell had 14, Akenten added 13 and Patterson contributed 11 to round out that group. Patterson scored all 11 of his points in the second half and, like Reed, Jr., made a flawless 7-of-7 free throws.
As a team, SEMO finished at 57.1 percent (32-of-56) from the field and made just under 80 percent (79.4, 27-of-34) of its free throws. The Redhawks went 21-of-26 at the free throw line in the second half alone. Additionally, SEMO outrebounded MSU, 33-30.
Gaige Prim and Donovan Clay topped MSU with 28 and 20 points, respectively. Prim also had a game-high 15 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
The Bears shot 51.7 percent (31-of-60) and lost for the first time under Head Coach Dana Ford when shooting 50 percent or better. Prior to tonight, the Bears were 26-0 in such games with Ford at the helm.
For the first time in its NCAA Division I era, SEMO won back-to-back season-openers outside of Cape Girardeau. Tonight's 99 points mark the Redhawks most in a season-opener since they turned Division I in 1991-92. Prior to tonight, the most points SEMO scored in a season-opener was 120 vs. Missouri Baptist on Nov. 19, 1990.
The Redhawks first win of the season was a bit sweeter for Korn and assistant coaches Keith Pickens and Sam McMahon who were at MSU earlier in their careers.
SEMO last beat the Bears in Springfield (78-74, Dec. 22, 2015) when Korn was part of MSU's staff as an assistant coach.
The Redhawks return to Cape Girardeau for a three-game homestand beginning Saturday with Horizon League member Youngstown State. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m., CT at the Show Me Center.
