CONWAY, Ark. – BJ Ward scored 19 points and nailed a big 3-pointer in the closing minute of overtime to send Southeast Missouri (2-3) to a 77-73 victory over Central Arkansas (1-4) Thursday night at the Farris Center. 
 
Cole McCormick split two free throws making his second shot to cut SEMO's lead to one when Ward drained a long 3-pointer to put the Redhawks ahead, 75-71, with 26 seconds remaining.  
 
Nine seconds later, TJ Biel made a free throw to keep SEMO's lead at five.
 
A pair of free throws by Brayden Fagbemi later trimmed the Redhawks lead to 76-73 before Marqueas Bell's free throw finished off the Bears.
 
Neither team led by more than six points in a tight see-saw battle that featured 19 ties and 15 lead changes.
 
Tied, 66-66, in the final 20 seconds of regulation, UCA had a chance to get ahead twice when Elias Cato and Michael Evbagharu each missed the front end of a one-and-one.
 
SEMO had an opportunity to win it, but Teddy Washington, Jr's jumper came off the rim sending the game to overtime.
 
Down, 12-6, SEMO made a 3-poiner on three-straight possessions to get its first lead of the game. 
 
After starting the contest 0-of-8 from long range, Damarion Walkup knocked down a pair of treys and Troy Cole, Jr. added one. Walkup's second three in that stretch put the Redhawks ahead, 15-12, with 10:07 remaining in the first half.
 
SEMO continued to add to its lead when Brendan Terry drove the lane for a dunk and BJ Ward buried a 3-pointer pushing the Redhawks margin to 20-14 with 8:38 left.
 
The Redhawks held a 31-26 cushion following a 3-pointer by Teddy Washington, Jr. before UCA scored the next five points to tie the game. Taylor Lane's 3-pointer knotted the score at 31-31 with 1:43 to go.
 
Elias Cato's layup regained a three-point edge for UCA, but Walkup splashed in a deep 3-pointer as time expired to make it a 34-34 game at the half.
 
SEMO heated up to shoot 60 percent (6-of-10) from 3-point range in the final 10:47 of the first half.
 
Ward, who scored double figures for the fifth-straight game this season, led SEMO with seven of his team's 11 points in overtime. For the night, he shot 6-of-13 from the field with four 3-pointers and a perfect 3-of-3 free throws.
 
Washington, Jr. also had 19 points for the Redhawks. He added eight rebounds and two assists.
 
Rob Martin and Walkup followed with 11 points apiece, while Elliot Lowndes contributed eight boards in his first career start.
 
As a team, SEMO made 11 three-pointers. It was the third time in five games where the Redhawks finished with 10 or more threes. Additionally, the Redhawks held a 36-22 advantage over the Bears in the paint.
 
Fagbemi and Cato topped UCA with 20 points apiece. UCA outscored SEMO, 22-11, at the free throw line, but missed some key free throws down the stretch.
 
The Redhawks beat UCA for the second-straight season in games decided by four points or less.


 
SEMO stays in Conway to face UNC Asheville Friday.