SATURDAY'S SCORES
@Southeast Missouri 65, UT Martin 60
Valparaiso 66,
@Murray State 64
High Point 76,
Austin Peay 74 (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
@UCF 66,
Belmont 63
@Jacksonville State 83, Tennessee Tech 62
@Tennessee State 67, Eastern Illinois 59
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 65, UT MARTIN 60
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (9-6, 1-0) fell behind by 15 points, but rallied behind its frontcourt tandem of Tyler Stone and Nino Johnson to pull off a 65-60 victory over UT Martin (3-10, 0-1) Saturday afternoon at the Show Me Center.
Southeast started Ohio Valley Conference play with a win for the second-straight year and improved to 9-13 all-time in league-openers.
Stone paved the way with a game-high 23 points, while Johnson followed with a double-double 15 points and 14 rebounds.
After Jeremy Washington's free throws gave the game its fifth tie at 56-56, Stone scored Southeast's next seven points and grabbed the Redhawks a 63-58 advantage with 2:23 left to play. Myles Taylor quickly responded with a layup to chip the lead to three, but Johnson and Lucas Nutt each made a free throw to secure the win down the stretch.
Southeast overcame a rugged first half, where it shot just 33.3 percent (9-of-27) from the field and 40.9 percent (9-of-22) at the free throw line. UTM made its first four field goals to ignite a 9-0 run, as Southeast went scoreless for 3:54.
The Skyhawks heated up to shoot 80 percent during that span, with Taylor scoring four points and Justin Childs knocking down a three-pointer to lead the way.
Southeast broke its early drought when Marland Smith made a pair of free throws with 16:06 left to play. The Redhawks continued to have problems getting shots to fall and UTM took advantage, this time, using a 12-4 surge to extend its lead to 21-6 on Mike Liabo's three-pointer with 9:39 remaining. Southeast didn't take long to get back in the game, answering with a 16-2 jaunt of its own.
The Skyhawks suddenly went cold, missing 10 field goals and committing three turnovers over the next 6:34 as the Redhawks pulled to within a point. Johnson scored five consecutive points before Stone's layup narrowed UTM's lead to 23-22 at the 3:45 mark. Southeast had an opportunity to take the lead in the last 40 seconds of the first half when Nutt made a jumper and was fouled.
Nutt later went to the free throw line to shoot two extra free throws after UTM head coach Jason James was whistled for a technical foul in front of the Skyhawks bench. Nutt managed to hit just one of his three attempts to tie the game at 27-27.
Tobias Dowdell then grabbed an offensive rebound, scored a layup and made a free throw after he was fouled on the play to give UTM a 30-27 edge at the intermission. Southeast took its first lead of the game on Smith's three-pointer (39-38) with 14:17 left.
Stone sunk 9-of-15 field goals and 5-of-11 free throws en route to his 14th-straight game scoring double figures. He also pulled down nine rebounds and poured in 20 or more points for the third time in his last four starts.
Meanwhile, Johnson turned in his team-high sixth double-double. It marked his fourth double-double in seven starts.
Southeast shot 50 percent (13-of-26) from the field in the second half and finished right at 50 percent (18-of-36) at the free throw line. The Redhawks turned the ball over a season-low seven times for the third game in a row, as well. Nutt, who had no turnovers in 37minutes, has only turned the ball over once in his last three starts.
Taylor scored 14 points and Washington added a double-double 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead UTM. Dowdell also grabbed 10 boards off the bench. The Skyhawks shot 35.4 percent (23-of-65) from the field on the afternoon.
UTM fell to its 18th-consecutive conference loss.
VALPARAISO 66, MURRAY STATE 64
MURRAY, Ky. - The Murray State Racers saw their home winning streak end at six in a 66-64 loss to Valparaiso Saturday afternoon at the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky.
The Racers (9-3) were led by Isaiah Canaan’s 24 points, while Ed Daniel added 14 and Dexter Fields had 12.
The loss marked just the first occurrence of back-to-back losses for the Racers in a span of 71 games.
MSU tried for a come from behind finish in front of a home crowd of 4,343, but fell just short after their five-point lead (54-49) at the 7:32 mark disappeared when the Crusaders went on a 10-0 run to lead 59-54 with 5:30 remaining.
MSU’s Dexter Fields cut into the lead with a three-pointer at the 4:45 mark to make it a two-point game 59-57.
MSU was again five points down at the 1:43 mark when Canaan hit a pair of free throws which was followed by Ed Daniel drawing a charge on VU’s Kevin Van Wijk. Canaan’s bid to tie the game with 22 seconds remaining was off the mark and VU finished a fast break to lead 64-59 with 15.3 left. Canaan made a layup to again cut the VU lead to three (64-61) with 9.7 left. Canaan also hit a three just before the final horn to make it a 66-64 final.
MSU shot 41 percent from the field (22-of-53), while the Crusaders were 45 percent (24-of-54). From three-point land, the Racers shot 39 percent (9-of-23), with VU shooting 37 percent (6-of-16).
The Racers led at the half even with a tough finish in the last nine minutes when VU put together an 11-0 run to lead 25-22 with 3:03 left. MSU hit 4-of-6 from three range to start the game and led 13-2 only four minutes into the contest.
HIGH POINT 76, AUSTIN PEAY 74
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - In a game of runs, High Point had one too many as the Panthers handed Austin Peay State University its sixth straight loss as the Governors fell, 74-72, in the consolation game of the Dr. Pepper Classic.
It was another in a string of frustrating defeats for the 4-10 Governors, especially when the game's final margin could be traced to a gift handed to the Panthers.
After APSU took the lead 59-57 following a Preston Herring dunk, High Point went on a 7-0 run, aided by a bench technical on the Govs-the official never identified to head coach Dave Loos who the culprit was-after Austin Peay believed guard Travis Betran was hammered on a baseline drive. Those two free throws made proved to be the point differential.
In fact, APSU would never lead again in the contest. High Point built as much as a seven-point lead down the stretch, but the Govs clawed back, making it a one-possession game after Anthony Campbell's traditional three-point play. But High Point's Adam Weary made it a four-point game, 74-70, with a pair of free throws with 20 seconds remaining. High Point was 6-of-6 at the line down the stretch.
APSU could only get a follow layup from Chris Horton with 1.2 seconds left to cut it to two. High Point was able to inbound the ball and ran out the clock.
APSU jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the game and then found themselves down by five after a 12-2 High Point run. The Govs cut it to one after two APSU freshmen, AJ Lynch and Chris Horton, hit back-to-back buckets before High Point extended the margin to six.
The Govs, with Anthony Campbell sandwiching a three-pointer and a layup around two Matt Hasse free throws, took the lead 25-24. But High Point immediately regained the lead and APSU would own the lead just one more time-on a Hasse free throw-before High Point took advantage of Travis Betran and Chris Horton being in foul trouble to close the half on a 12-6 run.
The Governors opened the second half by scoring eight straight points-two Will Triggs baskets and one apiece by Chris Horton and Anthony Campbell-to take the lead. But High Point answered with a 7-0 run to regain the lead.
From there it became a seesaw affair until the Panthers' late run.
High Point had just two players in double figures with John Brown leading the way for a second consecutive night with 25 points while Allan Chaney added 10.
The Govs placed four players in twin figures, led by Campbell's 23 points. It was the fourth consecutive 20-point outing for Campbell, who was named to the all-tourney team. Campbell was one rebound shy of a double-double.
Will Triggs added 14 points and eight rebounds with Chris Horton tossing in 13 points while grabbing nine rebounds and blocking six shots. Travis Betran suffered through struggling performance, making only 2-of-15 shots in scoring 10 points.
The Govs finished the night holding a 41-39 rebound edge. It was the first time since the Fairfield game that APSU held a rebound advantage against a Division I foe and the Govs did against a team that had been dominating of late on the glass.
UCF 66, BELMONT 63
ORLANDO, Fla. - Frigid first half shooting proved too much to overcome as Belmont University men's basketball dropped a 66-63 decision at UCF Saturday night.
This marked the first meeting between the two former Atlantic Sun Conference foes since 2005. With the scene shifting to shiny new UCF Arena, the Bruins and Knights provided another highly-competitive, highly-compelling game.
Both teams struggled out of the gates, going scoreless for the opening 2:34 before Keith Clanton got UCF on the board. The Bruins offensive woes persisted, however, as promising perimeter looks and interior opportunities went by the boards.
The Bruins unfathomably battled through nine empty trips to open the game, and when a steal and slam from Kacey Wilson gave the Knight a 6-0 lead, Belmont head coach Rick Byrd called a timeout less than four and a half minutes into the game.
The Bruins responded with an offensive rebound basket from senior Brandon Baker (Milford, Ohio), but when Clanton answered with a baseline reverse layin, Byrd called his second timeout in 47 seconds; imploring the Bruins to elevate their level of play.
A floater from senior Ian Clark (Memphis, Tenn.) steadied things, and Belmont's defense and rebounding remained solid. But wing three-pointers from Clanton and Isaiah Sykes - who combined entered the game with five total three-pointers - stung a bit and forced Belmont to regroup.
A determined layin from junior Blake Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) got Belmont within 18-10 with 8:07 left in the half, before a Matt Williams scramble layin and a baseline three-pointer from reserve Rod Days pushed the Knights lead back to 23-10 with 5:10 left in the half.
Byrd experimented with a number of lineups and position assignments, looking for an offensive spark. But despite some solid halfcourt ball movement and clean looks, Bruin shots continued to rim off.
A tip-in basket from senior Trevor Noack (Keller, Texas)
Belmont won all of the hustle stats - offensive rebounds, points off turnovers, second chance points, turnovers forced - but the Bruins endured one of the toughest shooting nights in recent memory.
Despite sound defense and rebounding, the Bruins fell behind 6-0 right off the bat and went only 9-for-35 from the field in the first half in trailing the host Knights 33-21 at halftime.
Belmont fought valiantly in the second half, getting within five points on two occasions before UCF replied with back-braking three-pointers from non-traditional outside shooters.
Trailing by 12 with 2:49 left, senior Ian Clark delivered five quick points to get the Bruins within 58-51 with 2:15 left. But after a three free throw sequence from UCF's Isaiah Sykes, Belmont pushed on.
Senior Trevor Noack capped a 10-2 Belmont run over a 1:37 span to get Belmont within 63-61 with 36 seconds left.
After officials clarified a game clock situation, Calvin Newell made one free throw with 18 seconds left to put UCF up three, 64-61.
With the opportunity for a game-tying three-point field goal, senior Kerron Johnson elected to attack the basket for a quick two-point basket to extend the game, but his shot through contact rimmed out.
The Knights made two free throws in the final six seconds to provide the final margin.
Belmont responded from the difficult start to shooting 50 percent in the second half.
Clark had 21 points, Johnson 18 points and eight rebounds.
Belmont is 9-4.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 83, TENNESSEE TECH 62
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Junior Brian William' 18 points led the Jacksonville State men's basketball team to an 83-62 Ohio Valley Conference opening win over Tennessee Tech on Saturday.
A total of nine Gamecocks (9-3, 1-0 OVC) scored on a night in which they shot 54.9 percent from the field. They also used a stingy defensive effort to become the third JSU team in its 18-year Division I history to start a season with nine wins in its first 12 games.
The Golden Eagles (6-6, 0-1 OVC) struggled to find a rhythm offensively and shot just 37.1 percent from the field while going over six minutes without a field goal in the second half.
Williams finished with a game-high 18 points while shooting 70 percent (7-of-10) from the field, including connecting on 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Sophomore Darion Rackley added 16 points off of 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 from behind the arc. Seniors Ronnie Boggs and Tarvin Gaines also finished in double figures for the Gamecocks, with Gaines scoring 15 points and grabbing a team-high eight rebounds while Boggs added 14 points and three steals.
Junior Nick Cook had one of the most complete games of the night for JSU. A native of Hattiesburg, Miss., Cook had seven points, seven rebounds, four assists, no turnovers and season-high five blocks.
The Gamecocks took a 39-28 lead into the half behind Rackley's 11 points. The St. Louis, Mo., native connected on 3-of-4 attempts from behind the arc to help JSU race out to a double-digit lead at the half.
Williams opened the second half with a three-point field goal to extend the Gamecocks lead to 14. The Golden Eagles then scored the game's next four points to cut the lead to 10. The Gamecocks then responded with a 17-0 run over a six minute span to extend the lead to 59-34.
The Gamecocks finished the game with 24 points off turnovers and 21 fast break points.
The Golden Eagles were led by Jud Dillard with 12 points and Jeremiah Samarrippas with 11 points. Dillard also grabbed eight rebounds to lead the way for TTU.
TENNESSEE STATE 67, EASTERN ILLINOIS 59
NASHVILLE - Patrick Miller had a career-high 28 points and the Tennessee State men’s basketball team hung on to defeat Eastern Illinois, 67-59, in the squad’s first Ohio Valley Conference game of the season.
Miller made his first four shots of the game and finished a perfect 11-of-11 from the charity stripe.
Kellen Thornton and Jordan Cyphers also finished in double-figures for Tennessee State (7-7, 1-0 OVC) with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Cyphers, Miller and Thornton combined for 80 percent of TSU’s 40 shots.
Thornton also had a game-high 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.
EIU won the opening tip, but TSU started the game on a 6-0 run that was sparked by a pair of buckets from Thornton. The Panthers answered with a three, but Cyphers returned the favor at the 17:53 mark to put the Tigers up, 9-3.
Cyphers hit another jumper from downtown with under eight minutes to go in the half and then canned his third of the game on TSU’s following possession. The offensive flurry put the Tigers in the lead, 24-10, and forced Eastern Illinois (3-11, 0-1 OVC) to use its first timeout of the half.
Cyphers went into the locker room with a half-high 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting. All of his attempts were from beyond the arc.
TSU maintained its double-digit lead for the remainder of the period and went into halftime sporting a 32-19 lead. Eastern Illinois’ 19 first half points were the least by any Tennessee State opponent this season.
The Tigers shot 52.4 percent during the opening stanza, but it was TSU’s defense that allowed the home team to take such a large lead. Big Blue only allowed EIU to shoot 26.1 percent in half one and the Panthers only pulled down one offensive board.
TSU picked up where it left off after halftime and a coast-to-coast layup by M.J. Rhett with 16:30 left in the game gave his squad a 19-point lead- its biggest of the contest.
However for the next eight minutes, the Panthers mounted a comeback that included a 6-0 run to put EIU within 10. Miller finally stopped the bleeding with a jumper, making the score 49-37.
Later, a three pointer by EIU’s Taylor Jones trimmed the Tiger lead to six with fewer than four minutes remaining in the game.
Cyphers finally put the nail in the coffin with his only three of the second half at the 2:23 mark, making the score 59-49. EIU tried to claw back into the game, and even got within four, but TSU hung on for a 67-59 win.
TSU was outscored 35-40 during the second half, but Miller’s 20 points in period two allowed the Tigers to move to .500.