Redhawks Thump Missouri Baptist, 84-56 - Southeast Missouri State University Athletics

Sunday, December 3

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

3:00 PM

Southeast Missouri State University

2-6,0-0OVC

Missouri Baptist

0-2

Team	1	2	F
Mo. Baptist	29	27	56
Southeast Mo. St.	48	36	84

Final Statistics Photos

12/3/2023 5:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Statistics Photos

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Aquan Smart scored a season-high 19 points and Southeast Missouri (2-6) made 26 free throws in an 84-56 rout of Missouri Baptist (7-2) Sunday afternoon at the Show Me Center.

Smart led four players in double figures for the Redhawks. Adam Larson added 15 points, Rob Martin had 12 and TJ Biel chipped in 11.

SEMO, which led from start to finish for the first time this season, outscored MBU, 26-6, at the free throw line en route to its second-straight home victory.

Up, 30-25, with 6:48 remaining in the first half, the Redhawks blew the game open with a 14-0 run.

Biel ignited the surge with a 3-pointer and Smart followed with the next six points. After Mason Hanback scored on a layup, Smart drained a 3-pointer to cap the run as SEMO extended its lead to 44-25 at the 2:01 mark.

Biel's second chance layup with three seconds on the clock sent SEMO into the locker room with its first halftime lead of the year, 48-29.

SEMO didn't let up in the second half where it pushed its lead over 20 points.

The Redhawks scored nine of the first 12 points in the final half of play. Larson scored four points and Braxton Stacker added five in the first 2:17 of the second stanza.

After Stacker drove the baseline, threw down a dunk and completed a 3-point play, Larson hit two free throws giving SEMO a 57-32 advantage with 17:43 left.

SEMO took its largest lead of the contest at 84-54 when Hanback made a layup with 25 seconds to go.

Smart shot 4-of-9 from the field and a near perfect 9-of-10 at the free throw line. He also dished out a game-high five assists.

Larson posted his team-high fifth double figure scoring performance with all but five of his points coming at the charity stripe. He made 10-of-12 free throws.

Meanwhile, Martin and Biel made four field goals apiece.

SEMO outrebounded the Spartans, 38-26, and man-handled MBU, 14-3, on the offensive end. The Redhawks shot 41.9 percent (26-of-62) from the floor and registered their biggest scoring margin (+20) at the free throw line under Head Coach Brad Korn.

The Redhawks improved to 21-0 all-time against MBU and ran its winning streak to 34 in a row versus non-Division I opponents.

SEMO returns to action when it hosts Harris-Stowe Dec. 6.