CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Chris Harris scored 16 points as Southeast Missouri (9-11, 4-3) fell to UT Martin (12-8, 4-3), 80-60, Thursday night at the Show Me Center.
UTM put an end to SEMO's three-game winning streak.
The Redhawks led for only 49 seconds and started slow shooting just 22.6 percent (7-of-31) in the first half.
SEMO won the tip and
Nate Johnson quickly scored the game's first basket 15 seconds in.
After that, SEMO went cold missing 13 field goals in a row. The Redhawks went without a field goal for 7:22 until
Aquan Smart's bucket was ruled good following a goaltending at the 12:23 mark to end the drought.
Ahead, 17-14, UTM then went on a 10-0 run and widened its lead to 27-14 when KJ Simon scored to cap the surge with 4:41 left.
Parker Stewart's 3-pointer later increased the Skyhawks lead to 35-20 before UTM headed into the intermission up, 38-24.
UTM, the best free throw shooting team in conference play this season, was in the bonus for the final 10:59 of the game.
Jordan Sears made a layup to give the Skyhawks a 51-34 advantage with 13:50 to go.
Following a sequence of three technical fouls, including two by UTM,
Dylan Branson split two free throws to cut the Skyhawks lead to 53-43 at the 9:21 mark.
UTM answered by running its lead to 63-47 on a conventional 3-point play by Chris Nix with 7:14 on the clock.
Three-pointers on consecutive possessions by Desmond Williams and Josh Endicott grabbed the Skyhawks a 69-51 lead and UTM later went ahead by 20 to claim its 12th win.
UTM shot 55.8 percent (29-of-52) for the game and 65.2 percent (15-of-23) in the game's final 20 minutes.
Harris made 7-of-9 free throws to go along with his four field goals, while
Dylan Branson added 10 points of his own.
SEMO made only 3-of-22 from three for a mere 13.6 percent.
The Skyhawks, who outrebounded the Redhawks, 38-24, were led by Sears' 20 points. Three others, including Stewart (16), KJ Simon (14) and Williams (11) joined Sears with double figures in the scoring column.
SEMO played for the first time this season without its top scorer
Phillip Russell in its starting lineup. Russell did not play due to an ankle injury.
The Redhawks remain home to host Tennessee Tech Saturday. Tip is set for 4 p.m., CT. For tickets, call (573) 651-2113 or visit
SEMORedhawks.com/Tickets.