NASHVILLE – Southeast Missouri (10-14, 5-8) made eight-straight free throws in the final 40 seconds of overtime to hang on for a thrilling 90-86 win over Tennessee State (8-15, 4-9) Thursday at the Gentry Center.
 
TSU missed three shots and had three offensive rebounds, but came up empty on a big possession in the final seconds of extra time. Lyric Cole turned the ball over with 42 seconds immediately following that sequence.
 
Kiyley Flowers intercepted Cole's errant pass and made two free throws to give SEMO an 84-80 edge two seconds later. Following two free throws by the Tigers, Jaliyah Green was fouled and calmly made both of her free throw attempts to push SEMO's lead to 86-82 with 22 seconds on the clock.
 
The Tigers again answered, this time with an Ashley Malone jumper. Sophie Bussard then headed to the free throw line with 8.4 seconds and made two shots. Bussard added two additional free throws to cap the clutch stretch.
 
TSU trailed, 66-49, with nine minutes to play in regulation before coming back to tie the game.
 
TSU cut SEMO's lead to six when Erica Haynes-Overton completed a 3-point play, Cole split two free throws and Haynes-Overton made a layup making it a 73-67 ballgame with 1:52 left. 
 
Gia Adams drove to the basket, banked in a layup and was fouled after that. Adams missed her free throw bringing SEMO's lead to 73-69.
 
A corner 3-pointer by Sania Parker pulled TSU within a point with 44 seconds to go following a Redhawk turnover. Parker's trey ended a late 13-0 surge by the Tigers.
 
SEMO, with the ball after a timeout, used two big free throws by Green to pull ahead, 75-72, with eight seconds remaining.
 
On the last possession of regulation, Haynes-Overton threw in a 3-pointer from the top of the arc with two seconds to send the game to overtime.
 
TSU made four of its first five 3-pointers of the game to help build an 18-8 lead less than five minutes into the contest. Adams and Haynes-Overton each made two apiece before Adams split two free throws to cap the run with 5:05 remaining in the first quarter.
 
SEMO, after trailing by eight (22-14) through one quarter of play, began the second period with a 19-8 run to take the lead. Flowers scored 11 points in a row to key the stretch. 
 
After burying a 3-pointer to get the Redhawk within three, Flowers followed with a layup and then converted back-to-back conventional 3-point plays to put the Redhawks ahead, 33-30, with 4:52 left.
 
Green pulled down an offensive rebound and scored to widen SEMO's lead to 35-31 before TSU tied the game on Kianni Westbrook's layup at the 1:51 mark.
 
Green sunk two free throws to give the Redhawks a 39-36 edge at halftime.
 
Flowers scored 11 of her 15 first-half points in the second quarter. Green added 10 points in the opening 20 minutes of action.
 
SEMO carried its momentum into the second half. The Redhawks started the third quarter on a 14-3 run and increased their lead to double figures for the first time.  
 
Rahmena Henderson kickstarted the surge when she drained a 3-pointer. The Redhawks scored on four layups after that and Bussard made two free throws. Henderson connected from long range again to give SEMO a 53-39 advantage with 5:46 to go.
 
Kennedi Watkins and Henderson each made a free throw to twice get SEMO a 16-point lead before the Redhawks were up, 64-49, after three quarters. The Redhawks shot 60 percent (6-of-10) from the field and made 11 free throws in the third quarter alone.
 
Flowers finished with a career-high 21 points on 7-of-14 field goals and 6-of-8 free throws. She added seven assists and three rebounds, as well. 
 
All five of SEMO's starters scored double figures. Green followed close behind Flowers with 19 points and nine rebounds, Bussard, too, scored 19, Watkins added 13 and Henderson chipped in 11. 
 
As a team, SEMO made 28-of-34 free throws. Nine of those came on 10 attempts in overtime. The 28 free throws made are a new season-high.
 
The Redhawks shot 47.5 percent (29-of-61) from the field, assisting 15 of their 29 made field goals.
 
Haynes-Overton and Parker paced TSU with 24 and 20 points, respectively.
 
The Tigers were outscored at the free throw line, 28-10, and that held up big in the end.
 
SEMO ended a three-game losing streak and claimed its 10th win of the season.
 
The Redhawks return home to host Morehead State Saturday. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m., CT at the Show Me Center. For tickets, call (573) 651-2113 or purchase online at SEMORedhawks.com/Tickets.