ST. LOUIS – BJ Ward scored 16 points to lead four players in double figures as Southeast Missouri (0-1) dropped its season-opener to Saint Louis (0-1), 92-67, Monday night at Chaifetz Arena.
 
SEMO held a 19-9 advantage in points off turnovers but couldn't overcome SLU's 48 points in the paint.
 
The Redhawks started strong leading for the opening 7:36 of the contest.
 
A native of St. Louis, Ward drained a 3-pointer for his team's first points of the season and Brendan Terry later made a layup to give the Redhawks their largest lead of the first half at 11-6 with 15:32 remaining.
 
After Marqueas Bell's pullup jumper put SEMO ahead 22-21, SLU put together a 10-0 run over the next 1:15.
 
Robbie Avila started the surge with a 3-pointer and SLU added four-straight free throws before Ishan Sharma buried a three to give the Billikens a 31-22 advantage at the 7:00 mark.
 
SLU used another jaunt, this time 7-0, to take its first double-digit lead of the night. Avila knocked down a 3-pointer to cap that stretch as the Billikens widened their lead to 44-33 with a little under two minutes to go.
 
Terry's jumper beat the buzzer and lowered SLU's margin to 44-35 at the half.
 
The Billikens outscored SEMO, 48-32, in the second half and led by as many as 26 to close out their season-opening victory.
 
Ward shot 5-of-14 from the field, made a pair of 3-pointer and hit 4-of-6 free throws. He added a team-high three assists, as well.
 
Terry and Braxton Stacker followed with 14 and 12 points, respectively. 
 
Bell was SEMO's other double-digit scorer with 10 points off the bench.
 
SLU shot 51.7 percent from the field in the first half and finished at just under 50 percent (49.3) for the game.
 
Avila paved the way with a double-double 18 points and 11 rebounds. Dion Brown turned in a double-double 11 points and 11 rebounds too. Amari McCottry pitched in 16 points, while Kellen Thames (12) and Quentin Jones (10) completed SLU's five players with double figures in the scoring column.

SLU outrebounded SEMO, 54-29, and knocked down nine 3-pointers.
 
The Redhawks and Billikens met for the seventh time in SEMO's NCAA Division I era. All of those games were played in St. Louis with the last five matchups at Chaifetz Arena.
 
This year marked the fourth time SEMO opened a season against SLU. The Redhawks are now 13-22 all-time in season-openers since moving to the NCAA Division I ranks in 1991-92. Additionally, it was the 19th time in 20 years where SEMO played its season-opener away from home.
 
SEMO returns to action at SEC member Missouri on Nov. 7.