NASHVILLE, Tenn. – BJ Ward poured in a career-high 22 points and made six 3-pointers as Southeast Missouri (0-2) gave Southeastern Conference member Vanderbilt (2-0) all it could handle in a 85-76 loss Sunday.
 
As a team, SEMO made 12 three-pointers and shot 52.2 percent from long range. The Redhawks outscored VU, 36-9, from beyond the arc. 
 
Behind Ward's first three 3-pointers, SEMO started strong out of the gate. 
 
The Redhawks made four of their first seven shots and proceeded to take their first double-digit lead of the season at 16-6 on Ward's third trey with 14 minutes remaining in the first half.
 
VU countered with a 21-6 run to grab a 27-22 advantage. Jason Edwards made a 3-pointer, was fouled and converted a 4-point play to tie the game at 20-20.
 
The Commodores then went ahead for the first time on their next possession when Tyler Nickel scored a layup. Nickel was fouled on and added a free throw to give VU a 23-20 edge with 8:30 left.
 
TJ Biel's 3-pointer narrowed VU's lead to 27-25 and SEMO again got within two on two free throws by Damarion Walkup that made it a 29-27 contest at the 5:21 mark.
 
SEMO closed out the opening stanza on a 5-0 run in the final 1:12 and used a running bank shot by Ward to narrow VU's lead to 40-38 at the intermission.
 
The Redhawks buried 7-of-13 three-pointers at a 53.8 percent clip in the first 20 minutes of play. Ward had a career-high four of those threes in the first half alone, while Biel added three of his own.
 
VU shot a mere 7.7 percent (1-of-13) from long range and was held without a field goal for the last 3:33 of the first half.
 
Ward quickly cut VU's lead to one (42-41) on a 3-pointer a little over one minute into the second half.
 
After VU responded with an 8-2 jaunt to build a 50-43 cushion. Nickel's 3-pointer ended that stretch with 17:33 to go.
 
Nickel later sunk another 3-pointer to put the Commodores ahead by 11 (56-45) one minute and 23 seconds later before SEMO countered with an 8-0 surge to make it a one-possession game.
 
Teddy Washington, Jr. made a layup and Biel and Washington, Jr. drained a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions bringing the score to 56-53 with 14:11 on the clock.
 
VU managed to get up by double figures following two free throws by Grant Huffman which gave the Commodores a 68-57 advantage with a little over nine minutes.
 
SEMO, however, continued to chip away and trimmed the margin to 70-65 on a 3-pointer by Washington, Jr. at the 8:00 mark.
 
VU fought off the Redhawks with a 15-11 run the rest of the way.
 
Ward shot 8-of-13 from the field with a career-best 6-of-7 three-pointers in his first start of the season and just the third of his career. He scored double-digits for the second-straight game this year.
 
Washington, Jr. followed with 19 points and Biel chipped in 12. 
 
Edwards topped VU with 17 points, while Devin McGlockton had a double-double 14 points and 19 boards.
 
VU outscored SEMO, 32-8, at the free throw line for the afternoon.
 
SEMO returns to Cape Girardeau to host Crowley's Ridge College in its home-opener on Nov. 13.