TUESDAY'S SCORES
@Southeast Missouri 86, Austin Peay 81 (OT)
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 86, AUSTIN PEAY 81 (OT)
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Eric Reed, Jr. scored 22 points and Darrious Agnew knocked down a 3-pointer to send the game to overtime as Southeast Missouri (8-14, 6-10) pulled off a thrilling 86-81 come-from-behind win over Austin Peay (13-9, 9-7) Tuesday night at the Show Me Center.
SEMO snapped an eight-game losing streak in its series against APSU, beating the Governors for the first time since 2017.
The Redhawks trailed, 49-36, with 15:30 remaining when they battled back to erase their double-digit deficit.
SEMO was later down, 65-55, at the 5:38 mark when it put together a 7-0 run to get within three. Dylan Branson and Nana Akenten each buried jumpers before Reed, Jr. nailed a 3-pointer to make it a 65-62 game with just under four minutes left.
Reed, Jr. then splashed in another 3-pointer to cut APSU's lead to 69-68 with 54 seconds to go. The Redhawks again got within a point (71-70) on a jumper by Chris Harris 30 ticks later.
Carlos Paez's two free throws stretched the Governors lead to 73-70, but Agnew sunk only his second 3-pointer of the season to send the game to overtime.
SEMO, which went to overtime for the fifth time this season, took its first lead of the extra period on a pair of Akenten free throws (76-75) at the 3:35 mark.
Once Nygal Russell's free throw put the Redhawks up, 79-78, SEMO didn't squander its lead the rest of the way.
Reed, Jr. drained another big 3-pointer to increase the Redhawks lead to 82-78 with 44 seconds on the clock.
Mike Peake, however, answered with a three of his own and the Governors were down a point.
APSU had following a SEMO turnover. On the next possession, Russell stole the ball off a pass from Paez and threw down a massive dunk in transition to push the Redhawks lead to 84-81. Akenten's two free throws with two seconds to go put the win on ice.
SEMO stormed out of the gate with a strong start and built a double-digit lead when Reed, Jr. knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Redhawks ahead, 21-22, with 7:20 remaining in the first half.
The Redhawks played excellent defense early on forcing four turnovers and holding the Governors to just 18 percent from the field in the opening 8:24.
As soon as APSU fell behind by double figures though, it used a quick nine-point swing in 1:52. Terry Taylor split two free throws at the end of that surge to cut SEMO's lead to 21-20 with 5:36 left.
Moments after Nate Johnson's free throw tied things up at 26-26, the Governors went on a 13-2 run to grab a 39-28 advantage. Reginald Gee keyed the run with nine points and made a 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions.
Harris converted a 3-point play and Reed, Jr. scored a layup as time expired with SEMO trailing, 39-33, at the half.
Reed, Jr. scored 22 points for the second-straight game against APSU. He shot 8-of-13 from the field and 5-of-7 from 3-point range, while adding four rebounds, three assists and a steal. Reed, Jr. made three of his season-best five threes in the second half.
Harris followed with 14 points, Agnew had a season-high 12 points and DQ Nicholas chipped in 11 to round out SEMO's double-digit scorers. Akenten turned in nine points and a team-high eight rebounds, as well.
SEMO shot 58.3 percent (14-of-24) from the field in the second half and 48.3 percent (29-of-60) for the game. The 86 points are the Redhawks most in a game this year.
Taylor led APSU with a double-double 29 points and 17 rebounds, and Gee pitched in 21 points.
APSU shot 91.7 percent (22-of-24) at the free throw line.
Additionally, both teams committed 21 turnovers.
With its eighth overall win, SEMO surpassed its season win total from 2019-20. The Redhawks also picked up their sixth Ohio Valley Conference win and doubled their number of conference wins from a year ago.