CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Manny Patterson scored a season-high 20 points to lead four Southeast Missouri (11-15, 6-7) starters in double figures in an 81-72 loss to Belmont (22-5, 12-2) Saturday at the Show Me Center.
 
SEMO and BU played in front of a crowd of 1,469, the Redhawks largest home attendance of the season.
 
The Redhawks came out of the gate and shot over 53 percent in the first half. Sam Thompson's second chance layup gave the Redhawks a 12-7 advantage with 14:18 remaining for SEMO's largest lead of the contest.
 
BU responded with a 9-0 run and pulled ahead, 16-12, on Will Richard's jumper at the 10:32 mark and never trailed again.
 
The Bruins went on to get a 37-35 halftime edge.
 
Nygal Russell buried four 3-pointers from the left corner and led SEMO with 12 first-half points.
 
Patterson made two free throws to tie the game at 39-39 early in the second half, but the Redhawks couldn't get ahead of the Bruins despite being tied once more and within one point on three other occasions.
 
Grayson Murphy made a jumper to widen BU's lead to 66-56 with 6:10 left and led by 10 three additional times before the Bruins polished off their 22nd win.
 
BU made six of its final seven shots down the stretch.
 
Patterson made a near-perfect 8-of-9 field goals and 4-of-5 free throws as SEMO's top scorer. Phillip Russell followed with 16 points and four assists, while N. Russell added 14 points, five rebounds and four assists. Eric Reed, Jr. contributed 12 points, as well.
 
Nana Akenten, who returned after missing the last two games due to COVID protocols, had a team-high seven rebounds.
 
SEMO shot 42.9 percent (27-of-63) from the field and made seven 3-pointers.
 
Each team committed 16 turnovers with the Bruins outscoring the Redhawks, 23-11, in points off those miscues.
 
Nick Muszynski topped BU with 21 points. BU's four other starters, including Luke Smith (14), Murphy (10), Richard (11) and Ben Sheppard (12) joined Muszynski with double-digit points.
 
SEMO returns to action at Tennessee Tech on Feb. 17.