Thursday, January 29
Macomb, Ill.
7:30 PM
Southeast Missouri State University
12-10,7-4OVC
78
at
74
Western Illinois
4-18,0-11OVC
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Mo. St. | 36 | 42 | 78 |
| Western Ill. | 29 | 45 | 74 |
Redhawks Hang On for 78-74 Win Over Western Illinois
1/29/2026 10:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MACOMB, Ill. – Brendan Terry scored 16 points, including six in the final 52 seconds to lift Southeast Missouri (12-10, 7-4) to a 78-74 win over Western Illinois (4-18, 0-11) Thursday night.
SEMO dropped WIU to its 11th-straight loss in a tight game that wasn't decided until Terry's big push at the end.
WIU scored nine points in less than three minutes to bring the game to a 38-38 tie at the start of the second half.
Lucas Lorenzen's 3-pointer then gave the Leathernecks a 43-41 edge with 15:04 to go.
Marqueas Bell countered with a burst of eight-straight points to grab SEMO a 49-46 advantage ahead of a media timeout with 11:38 left.
Terry later scored on a layup to extend the Redhawks lead to 55-49.
Following a 3-pointer by BJ Ward, SEMO led 63-56 with just under six minutes left.
WIU again responded, this time scoring the next four points to make it a one-possession game at 63-60.
Both teams continued to trade baskets and the Leathernecks pulled within two on three occasions.
Ahead, 69-67, with 2:19 on the clock, Braxton Stacker split two free throws and Lorenzen buried a 3-pointer to tie things up at 70-70.
On SEMO's ensuing possession, Bell got an offensive rebound and scored to put the Redhawks up, 72-70, at the 1:30 mark.
Danny Stephens was fouled and added two free throws to give the game its seventh tie.
SEMO, however, answered with a layup by Terry to pull ahead, 74-72, with 52 seconds to play.
The Redhawks defense got a stop on WIU's next trip down the floor. Terry was fouled and hit two free throws to stretch SEMO's lead to 76-72 with 22 seconds left.
A pair of free throws by Francis Okwuosah got the Leathernecks within two once more before Terry was fouled again nine seconds later.
Terry came up big with another two free throws and Luke Almodovar rebounded a missed 3-pointer by Isaiah Griffin to secure the victory.
SEMO scored on five of its first six possessions out of the gate.
The Redhawks used a 9-0 run to get ahead, 20-17. Almodovar started the surge with a 3-pointer. Layups by Troy Cole, Jr. and Stacker followed before Bell made two free throws to cap the surge with 9:16 remaining in the first half.
After Stephens answered with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 20-20, SEMO outscored WIU, 16-9, for the final nine minutes to take a 36-29 lead at the break.
Terry shot 5-of-8 from the field and did not miss at the free throw line going 6-of-6. He had 14 of his points in the second half.
Bell and Stacker followed with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Bell also had eight boards.
Almodovar rounded out SEMO's four double-digit scorers with 11 points.
Additionally, Ward matched a career-high seven assists.
The Redhawks shot 54.3 percent (25-of-46) from the field and outrebounded WIU, 33-26.
Lorenzen finished with a game-high 20 points for the Leathernecks.
SEMO swept it home-and-home series against WIU for the second-straight year.
The Redhawks head to Eastern Illinois for its last January game Saturday.
SEMO dropped WIU to its 11th-straight loss in a tight game that wasn't decided until Terry's big push at the end.
WIU scored nine points in less than three minutes to bring the game to a 38-38 tie at the start of the second half.
Lucas Lorenzen's 3-pointer then gave the Leathernecks a 43-41 edge with 15:04 to go.
Marqueas Bell countered with a burst of eight-straight points to grab SEMO a 49-46 advantage ahead of a media timeout with 11:38 left.
Terry later scored on a layup to extend the Redhawks lead to 55-49.
Following a 3-pointer by BJ Ward, SEMO led 63-56 with just under six minutes left.
WIU again responded, this time scoring the next four points to make it a one-possession game at 63-60.
Both teams continued to trade baskets and the Leathernecks pulled within two on three occasions.
Ahead, 69-67, with 2:19 on the clock, Braxton Stacker split two free throws and Lorenzen buried a 3-pointer to tie things up at 70-70.
On SEMO's ensuing possession, Bell got an offensive rebound and scored to put the Redhawks up, 72-70, at the 1:30 mark.
Danny Stephens was fouled and added two free throws to give the game its seventh tie.
SEMO, however, answered with a layup by Terry to pull ahead, 74-72, with 52 seconds to play.
The Redhawks defense got a stop on WIU's next trip down the floor. Terry was fouled and hit two free throws to stretch SEMO's lead to 76-72 with 22 seconds left.
A pair of free throws by Francis Okwuosah got the Leathernecks within two once more before Terry was fouled again nine seconds later.
Terry came up big with another two free throws and Luke Almodovar rebounded a missed 3-pointer by Isaiah Griffin to secure the victory.
SEMO scored on five of its first six possessions out of the gate.
The Redhawks used a 9-0 run to get ahead, 20-17. Almodovar started the surge with a 3-pointer. Layups by Troy Cole, Jr. and Stacker followed before Bell made two free throws to cap the surge with 9:16 remaining in the first half.
After Stephens answered with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 20-20, SEMO outscored WIU, 16-9, for the final nine minutes to take a 36-29 lead at the break.
Terry shot 5-of-8 from the field and did not miss at the free throw line going 6-of-6. He had 14 of his points in the second half.
Bell and Stacker followed with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Bell also had eight boards.
Almodovar rounded out SEMO's four double-digit scorers with 11 points.
Additionally, Ward matched a career-high seven assists.
The Redhawks shot 54.3 percent (25-of-46) from the field and outrebounded WIU, 33-26.
Lorenzen finished with a game-high 20 points for the Leathernecks.
SEMO swept it home-and-home series against WIU for the second-straight year.
The Redhawks head to Eastern Illinois for its last January game Saturday.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballTeam Stats
SEMO
WIU
FG%
.543
.400
3FG%
.278
.370
FT%
.697
.690
RB
33
26
TO
13
7
STL
5
9
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
1
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