CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – DQ Nicholas scored 13 points and Eric Reed, Jr. added 12 as Southeast Missouri (7-12, 5-8) fell to Jacksonville State (12-7, 8-5), 66-54, Saturday at the Show Me Center.

SEMO wrapped up its season-long five-game homestand with a 3-2 mark.

The Redhawks held a 29-28 edge at halftime, but JSU took over in the second half and never looked back. JSU outscored SEMO, 28-10, in the first 13:16 of the final stanza and that was the difference.

Jay Pal's dunk gave the Gamecocks a 56-39 lead with 6:44 to go.

SEMO then responded with an 11-1 un to narrow JSU's lead to 57-50. Nygal Russell's free throw ended the surge with 2:09 remaining.

The Redhawks again pulled within seven on a pair of free throws by Chris Harris with a little under two minutes left, but that was as close as the would get.

SEMO led for nearly the entire first half and used back-to-back 3-pointers by Reed, Jr. to take a 20-13 lead with 9:44 remaining. Reed, Jr. buried each of his first three 3-pointers and paced the Redhawks with nine first-half points. 

After JSU cut the Redhawks lead to three (20-17), SEMO pushed its lead back to seven with layups from Nicholas and Russell.

Jordan Love's layup later put SEMO ahead, 26-20, before it headed into the locker room with a 29-28 edge.

SEMO shot a season-low 33.3 percent (17-of-51) from the field and missed 13 free throws (13-of-26). The Redhawks were also outrebounded, 44-32.

Nicholas shot 5-of-9 from the field and grabbed four rebounds in 31 minutes, while Reed, Jr. hit 4-of-8 field goals with all of his points coming from 3-point range. Nana Akenten topped SEMO with six boards.

Jalen Finch led JSU with a game-high 16 points. Darian Adams followed with 13 points and Kayne Henry finished with a game-high nine rebounds.

JSU shot 53.8 percent (14-of-26) and outscored SEMO, 38-25, in the second half.

The Redhawks return to action at Murray State on Feb. 11.