Panthers dominate Redhawks men

Southeast Missouri State's Lamont Russell scores over Eastern Illinois' Ousmane Cisse during the first half Saturday at the Show Me Center. (TIM BRUMITT) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The good news was junior forward Cameron Butler finally played in a game again.

The bad news was the Redhawks did far too few things right to take advantage of Butler's return.

Eastern Illinois pulled away late in the first half and went on to rout the host Redhawks 75-49, sending Southeast to its seventh loss in nine contests.

First-year Southeast coach Dickey Nutt was about as upset following a game as he has been at any time this season.

"This is the first night in a long while that I was most disappointed in our effort," Nutt said. "It's one thing to lose, but when you don't play with that incredible desire and passion ... that is what bothers me the most.

"We have to do everything the right way to be competitive."

Southeast (7-16, 3-9) remained eighth in the 10-team Ohio Valley Conference.

EIU (12-11, 6-7) is tied for fifth after winning for just the second time in eight games. The Panthers also rolled past Southeast 88-68 on Jan. 9 in Charleston, Ill.

"This was really big for us," EIU coach Mike Miller said.

The earlier meeting with EIU had been the last contest Butler participated in.

After capping a string of four straight double-figure scoring performances with 17 points against the Panthers, Butler suffered a foot injury the following day in practice and missed the next seven games.

Butler, Southeast's top scorer in OVC play and No. 2 rebounder overall, finally returned to action. Although he didn't start, he played 26 minutes and did not appear to favor the foot much if at all.

"It's pretty good," Butler said. "It hurts now and then, but as long as I keep getting treatment, I should be fine."

Butler scored nine points, grabbed four rebounds and blocked three shots. He hit 2 of 4 field-goal attempts and did much of his damage from the free-throw line, making 5 of 6.

"Cameron was the one bright spot," Nutt said. "He did give us some energy."

Nutt said he did not plan to play Butler that many minutes, adding "I just felt like he was the only one showing some heart and passion."

Butler said his busy night also surprised him, but he wasn't complaining.

"I wasn't expecting to play that many minutes, but I handled it well," he said.

But aside from Butler's return, little else was positive for the Redhawks after the squads were tied 21-21 with a little more than five minutes left in the first half.

EIU scored the next five points as part of an 11-1 run that put the Panthers ahead 32-22. It was 37-25 at halftime and Southeast got no closer than 12 points in the second half.

"I think it's toughness and heart," junior guard Sam Pearson said. "We have to play with more heart."

The Redhawks found themselves in the 12-point halftime hole partly due to 10 turnovers and making only 4 of 10 free throws. EIU had a whopping 15-0 first-half edge in points off turnovers.

"When you turn the ball over and miss your free throws, you've got a problem," Nutt said.

Pearson was Southeast's only double-figure scorer as he had 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

But the Redhawks shot just 36.4 percent (16 of 44) and made only 4 of 20 3-pointers (20 percent).

On the other end, EIU shot a sizzling 50.8 percent (32 of 63) and had only nine turnovers compared to 16 for Southeast. The Panthers had a 36-18 edge on points in the paint.

"Unfortunately our identity now is how we shoot the basketball," said Nutt, who as he builds the program wants Southeast to take on more of a defensive identity. "We faced an experienced basketball team and got embarrassed at home.

"They were good tonight. Their zone really bothered us."

Sophomore guard Jeremy Granger paced EIU with game highs of 19 points and five assists.

"He had a good game for us tonight," Miller said.

The Redhawks, who began a string featuring five of their final seven OVC contests at home, visit Tennessee-Martin on Tuesday night. The Skyhawks are the only OVC team without a conference win.

"I'm sure they're licking their chops," Nutt said.