EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Southeast Missouri (5-9, 0-1) made a strong push at the end, but couldn't catch Southern Indiana (8-6, 1-0) which pulled away with an 86-81 victory Thursday night in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams.
 
SEMO was down by as many as 23 points, but outscored USI, 55-43, in the second half and got within five in the final seconds. The comeback bid, however, came just a little too late.
 
After shooting less than 30 percent from the field in the first half, the Redhawks turned things around and made 21-of-38 shots at a 55.3 percent clip in the game's final 20 minutes.
 
With 17:43 left in the game, SEMO continued to chip away and put together a 12-2 run to make it a 12-point contest.
 
Israel Barnes and Chris Harris each nailed a 3-pointer. Three layups, including two by Dylan Branson and one by Barnes polished off the surge. Barnes' basket cut the Screaming Eagles lead to 57-45.
 
Aquan Smart's basket made it a nine-point ballgame at the 10:39 mark and Harris' layup closed USI's lead to nine again with under a minute to play.
 
Harris scored to bring the Eagles lead to 83-78 with 24 seconds to go before the Screaming Eagles made three free throws in the last 17 seconds to hang on.
 
Both teams had a hard time getting shots to fall early on. SEMO and USI made just two field goals apiece in the opening 9:26 of play. 
 
The Screaming Eagles, who lead the OVC in 3-point field goal percentage, missed their first six shots from downtown before breaking out of their slump with treys on three-straight possessions.
 
Gary Solomon drained USI's first 3-pointer before Nate Johnson scored to cut the Screaming Eagles lead to 12-8. Jack Mielke made a three on USI's next two trips down the court to widen the Screaming Eagles margin to 18-9 with a little over nine minutes remaining in the first half.
 
Kobe Clark later buried a 3-pointer and Nate Johnson followed with a layup to close the Screaming Eagles lead to 24-20 at the 5:35 mark.
 
USI used three more 3-pointers during a 15-0 run to stretch its lead to 39-20 with 1:46 to go. The Screaming Eagles would then head into the locker room ahead, 41-26.
 
Jacob Pokakovich scored 27 points and had 26 rebounds to lead USI which outrebounded SEMO, 50-37. The Screaming Eagles held a +7 advantage (18-11) on the offensive glass.
 
Harris paced SEMO with 16 points and career-high nine rebounds. He shot 5-of-9 from the field, buried three 3-pointers and made 3-of-5 free throws.
 
Branson matched a career-best 12 points off the bench and Clark chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds.
 
Barnes, who returned after missing the last three games due to illness, had eight points in 26 minutes.
 
SEMO and USI hooked up for the first time in 32 years and first as NCAA Division I schools. The Redhawks and Screaming Eagles last met in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional in Cape Girardeau during the 1989-90 season.
 
The Redhawks return to action when they host SIU Edwardsville in a New Year's Eve matinee Saturday. Tip is set for 2 p.m., CT at the Show Me Center.