CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Three Redhawks finished in double-figures scoring as the Southeast Missouri men's basketball team beat Fontbonne, 67-52, Tuesday night in exhibition play at the Show Me Center.
 
Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference players, Chris Harris and Phillip Russell led the way with 18 and 17 points, respectively, as SEMO opened its 2022-23 season Tuesday in front of over 700 fans. Israel Barnes added 10 points in his first game as a Redhawk.
 
The Redhawks led 33-21 at halftime and saw their advantage grow as high as 21 (67-46) Tuesday.
 
The Griffins jumped out to a 6-2 lead after consecutive baskets from Brett Wagner. 
 
The Redhawks then utilized a 12-0 run to widen the margin to 17-9 just over midway through the opening period. Adam Larson hit back-to-back triples to wrap the sequence.
 
Larson tallied eight points and seven rebounds in his SEMO debut.
 
Josh Mitchell slammed home a dunk to increase the edge to 22-16 with 4:34 left in the first half. 
 
Harris then added a layup with 37 seconds remaining in the half to provide the Redhawks their largest lead of the opening period, 33-21. 
 
Harris went to the locker room with 10 points, shooting 3-for-7 from the field and 3-for-4 from the charity stripe in the first half. 
 
Out of the break, Wagner and Elijah tallied consecutive baskets to trim the SEMO lead to 37-26. 
 
The Redhawks then widened the gap to 47-26 after a 10-0 run that featured consecutive triples by Harris and Barnes.
 
Harris nailed another three-pointer with 10:33 remaining in the game to make the advantage 52-31 as the Griffins came as close as 62-57 down the stretch. 
 
Russell finished 5-for-15 shooting and 6-for-8 on free throws to go with four assists, two steals and two rebounds. 
 
Barnes was three boards away from a double-double, grabbing seven and going 4-for-10 on field goals. 
 
Nate Johnson made his return to the hardcourt after suffering a season-ending injury during the 2021-22 season. Johnson compiled six points (3-for-7 shooting) with three rebounds and a block in his first collegiate basketball game back since Dec. 30, 2021. 
 
Kobe Clark grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and two blocks. Josh Mitchell added six boards, three steals and a block.
 
Eight Redhawks made their SEMO debuts in the exhibition game Tuesday night in Barnes, Clark, Aquan Smart, Larson, Evan Eursher, Tevin Gowins, Mitchell, and Mason Hanback. 
 
Wagner led Fontbonne with 11 points, shooting 4-for-17 and four rebounds. Will Suellentrop hauled down a game high 11 boards.
 
SEMO shot 40 percent from the field Tuesday while the Griffins posted a rate of 34 percent. 
 
The Redhawks next continue their exhibition portion of their schedule on Sunday when they take on Aurora University. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m., CT at the Show Me Center.