CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri (4-6) scored four points in the final 59 seconds to eke out a 74-70 win over Chattanooga (4-5) Saturday afternoon in a thriller at McKenzie Arena.
 
In an up-tempo slugfest that featured 13 ties and 19 lead changes, SEMO delivered the knockout blow to come away with its first true road victory of the season.
 
Troy Cole, Jr., provided the spark the Redhawks needed to get to the finish line when he stole the ball and threw down a dunk giving SEMO a 70-68 edge with 1:39 to go.
 
After Makai Richards made two free throws to tie the game one last time, Cole, Jr. hammered down another big dunk. BJ Ward found Cole, Jr. who then drove the baseline and scored to regain a 72-70 advantage for the Redhawks.
 
Former Redhawk Teddy Washington, Jr. missed a jumper in the paint on UTC's ensuing possession. Luke Almodovar grabbed the rebound and Braxton Stacker was fouled. Stacker made two free throws with 13 seconds on the clock to ice it.
 
Almodovar gave SEMO its first lead in the second half when he stole the ball and went to the rim for a dunk to make it a 57-55 ballgame with 12:26 left to play.
 
Neither team led by more than three points for the last 9:09 of the contest.
 
SEMO and UTC shot 57 percent or better and led by no more than five points in a tightly contested first half.
 
Landren Blocker sent a jolt into the Redhawks out of the gate scoring a pair of layups and getting a steal in the first 2:09. Blocker's step back jumper put SEMO ahead, 6-1, with 17:51 remaining in the first half.
 
After Almodovar buried a 3-pointer to tie the game at 37-37, UTC answered with five-straight points and built its five-point cushion on Jordan Frison's driving layup with 51 seconds to go.
 
A pull up 3-pointer by Stacker and layup by Elliot Lowndes at the buzzer helped trim the Mocs' lead to 46-44 at the half.
 
The Redhawks shot 57.6 percent (19-of-33) from the floor, while UTC made 70.8 percent (17-of-24) of its field goals in the first 20 minutes of play. 
 
Almodovar led three SEMO players in double figures with 16 points off the bench. He scored 12 of those from downtown.

Stacker followed with 12 points and Ward added 10. Stacker made a perfect 4-of-4 free throws and Ward posted four assists, as well.
 
Cole, Jr. also had nine points and five rebounds for the Redhawks, both season-highs.
 
The Redhawks outrebounded the Mocs, 23-13, in the second half. Seven of their boards were on the offensive glass. Additionally, SEMO's 39 points off the bench are the Redhawks most against a Division I opponent this year.
 
SEMO and UTC met for the third-straight season. The Redhawks snapped a two-game skid in the all-time series with their win today. SEMO last beat the Mocs at McKenzie Arena on Nov. 18, 2012 (77-65).
 
The Redhawks break for final exams before hosting Saint Xavier (Ill.) in their non-conference finale on Dec. 14.