Redhawks Comeback Falls Short in 61-54 Loss to Morehead State

Wednesday, March 3

Evansville, Ind.

9:30 PM

Southeast Missouri State University

11-16,9-11OVC

#2 Morehead State

21-7,17-3OVC

Team	1	2	F
Southeast Mo. St.	20	34	54
Morehead St.	29	32	61

Photo by: Michael Dann

3/3/2021 11:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Statistics Postgame Press Conference Photos Highlights

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Eric Reed, Jr. scored 17 points and made five 3-pointers as #7 Southeast Missouri (11-16) ended its season with a 61-54 loss to #2 Morehead State (21-7) Wednesday night in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

SEMO rallied to beat MSU, 34-32, in the second half, but came up short.

Down, 29-20, at the intermission, the Redhawks began the second half with an 8-0 run and quickly pulled to within a point when Nana Akenten buried a 3-pointer at the 16:43 mark.

Although SEMO managed to get within three or less points on five occasions in the second stanza, the difference in the game was at the free throw line.

MSU was in the bonus for the final 7:15 of the contest and, at one time, went to the free throw line on eight-straight possessions. As a result, the Eagles finished the night outscoring the Redhawks, 16-6, at the charity stripe and that loomed large in the end.

First-Team All-OVC pick Johni Broome scored the first seven points for MSU out of the gate and the Eagles grabbed an early 9-2 advantage.

After Nygal Russell's layup later trimmed the Eagles lead to 17-12, MSU responded with a 7-0 run to go up double-digits, 24-12, with 5:55 left to play in the first half.

Reed, Jr., who scored 11 points in the opening 20 minutes, pulled up and drained his third 3-pointer to make it a six-point game with eight seconds on the clock. Ta'ion Cooper's trey at the buzzer, however, lifted MSU to a 29-20 halftime lead.

SEMO shot 35.7 percent (20-of-56) from the field and scored 24 of its points from beyond the arc.

Reed, Jr. made 6-of-16 field goals and knocked down 5-of-9 from distance. He ended his first season with the Redhawks strong scoring double figures in six of his final nine starts.

Chris Harris and Akenten followed with nine points each, while Darrious Agnew added eight. Akenten and Manny Patterson paved the way with six rebounds apiece.

Cooper led MSU with 17 points.

SEMO played in its 16th OVC Tournament in program history. The Redhawks won 11 games and made the league's postseason fling for the first time since it has been in Evansville under first-year head coach Brad Korn. SEMO's 11 Division I wins were the most in a season since the Redhawks posted 12 in 2017-18.