Earley Scores Career-High 20 Points, Redhawks Drop 70-59 Decision to Tennessee Tech - Southeast Missouri State University Athletics

Saturday, January 13

Cookeville, Tenn.

3:00 PM

Southeast Missouri State University

6-12,1-4OVC

Tennessee Tech

7-11,2-3OVC

Team	1	2	F
Southeast Mo. St.	37	22	59
Tennessee Tech	37	33	70

Final Statistics Photos

1/13/2024 6:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Statistics

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Josh Earley scored a career-high 20 points and Southeast Missouri (6-12, 1-4) dropped a 70-59 decision to Tennessee Tech (7-11, 2-3) Saturday afternoon at the Eblen Center.

Earley scored 12 of his points in the second half en route to his fourth-straight double-digit scoring performance.

SEMO and TTU started strong with neither missing a field goal in the opening 6:23 of play. The Rehawks made their first six shots and the Golden Eagles went 4-of-4 in that span.

Five ties and five lead changes later, Rob Martin broke a 14-14 deadlock by scoring seven-straight points to put SEMO ahead.

Rob Martin nailed a 3-pointer with one second on the shot clock, was fouled and completed a 4-point play. He followed that up with another three to extend SEMO's lead to 21-14 with 10:24 remaining in the first half.

Josiah Davis made a 3-pointer and Daniel Egbuniwe added a layup to regain a 37-33 edge for TTU with 1:50 left. Braxton Stacker then scored a layup to tie things up, 37-37, heading into the intermission.

In a half that had eight lead changes alone, SEMO made six 3-pointers, its second-most in an opening stanza this season. The Redhawks shot 58.3 percent from the floor and the Golden Eagles shot 60 percent in a hot shooting 20 minutes for both clubs.

Earley took over at the beginning of the second half scoring eight points in the first 4:32. His second chance layup finished off that stretch tying the game at 45-45 with 15:28 to go.

TTU countered with the next five points to go up 50-45 before TJ Biel rattled home a 3-pointer to make it a two-point contest with under 12 minutes remaining.

Dylan Branson made two free throws to narrow TTU's margin to 56-54, but the Golden Eagles answered with a 9-0 run to pull away.

Jayvis Harvey knocked down a 3-pointer, Davis added back-to-back baskets and Egbuniwe scored to put TTU ahead, 65-54, at the 5:32 mark.

After Earley's basket ended a scoreless stretch of 5:26 for the Redhawks, Martin made a 3-pointer on SEMO's next possession to close the Golden Eagles lead to 65-59.

SEMO made only two field goals in the last eight minutes of the contest, while TTU hit 5-of-6 free throws in the final 53 seconds.

TTU shot 56.1 percent (23-of-41) from the field and outscored SEMO, 16-5, at the free throw line. The Golden Eagles missed just three free throws along the way going 16-of-19.

SEMO, which outrebounded TTU, 32-22, shot just 28.1 percent (9-of-32) in the second half.

Earley was 10-of-14 from the floor and added five rebounds. Martin followed with 12 points and three assists, while Aquan Smart led the way with seven boards.

Both teams finished with eight 3-pointers apiece, as well.

SEMO hosts SIU Edwardsville on Jan. 20, its final home game this month.