Big games from Martin, Washington not enough as SEMO MBB falls to Chattanooga 87-82

CAPE GIRARDEAU — Chattanooga could not stop Rob Martin and Teddy Washington Jr. on Sunday afternoon.

The only thing that the two guards and the rest of the Redhawks needed was more time.

An entertaining back-and-forth affair saw Southeast Missouri State on the receiving end of defeat as head coach Brad Korn’s squad dropped a tight 87-82 loss to Chattanooga on Sunday, Nov. 17 at the Show Me Center.

“A great college basketball game,” Korn said. “I just thought we missed some opportunities in the middle of the second half to where we could have shortened that lead a little bit. Then it got up to 10, but our kids fought back to have a shot at the end to kind of tie it. So, pleased with that, but gotta have a little bit more consistency, a little bit more discipline across the board to beat a team like that. All in all, I’m pleased with our effort. Did everything except win the game.”

Following a rather quiet start to the new season, Martin went ballistic on Sunday after tying a career-high in points (29) on 12-of-24 shooting. Washington Jr., who was coming off his first-career double-double on Wednesday, followed it up with yet another after tallying a career-high 25 points and 10 rebounds.

“I was really just trying to take what the defense gave me” said Washington Jr., who transferred in from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the offseason. “Coach did a good job of spacing the floor and giving us opportunity. I don’t know how much Rob had, but he had quite a few (points). Today I just kept it rolling.”

Star point guard BJ Ward showed no sign of slowing down either after the sophomore posted his fourth straight double-digit scoring game behind 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting.

Chattanooga (2-3) led for the first 18 minutes of the game until SEMO (1-3) forged a late rally behind an 11-5 run to close out the first half. Martin, who had 14 points in the opening frame, netted a pair of jumpers near the top of the key for a Redhawks team that shot 59% from the field in the first half.

The Redhawks fell behind quickly in the early stages of the second half as the Mocs took advantage of SEMO’s 1-of-13 shooting from the field and went on a 13-2 run to jump in front 64-56.

With 1:18 remaining and SEMO trailing 80-75, Martin gave his team some life when he drained a 3-pointer with one second to go on the shot clock, pulling the Redhawks to within three.

The junior was not finished.

Down 83-79, the hot-shooting Martin unleashed his inner superman when he swished a 3-pointer from the center of the arc to cut the deficit to one and send the Show Me Center into a frenzy.

“I just let the game come to me,” Martin said. “It's all a process of just trusting in the process and just believing in my work.”

SEMO’s magic ran out, however, as Martin rimmed a desperation 3-point try with three seconds left to hand the ball back to the Mocs, icing the game.

“I feel like we came out a little sluggish in the second half,” Martin said. “Being down like 8-10 points, not rebounding, getting backdoor cuts. So, it was hard to come back from being down. I feel like we fought back, but I feel like it was a little bit too late."

Chattanooga saw five players reach double digits for the Mocs, who were coming off a home win over Morehead State three days earlier.

Big Picture

To get back to their winning ways, the Redhawks probably have to shoot better than 23% from 3. Other than Martin and Washington Jr., no player made more than one 3-pointer, including Ward, who entered the game ranked 15th in the nation in 3-point percentage (.625).

“If you're going to be a good 3-point shooting team, a lot of other things got to happen too,” Korn said. “You’ve got to have guys that can pass it to a guy that can shoot it, and you also have the correct spacing and timing in order to get the shots on time, on target. So, anybody can just come down and shoot some 3s, but it doesn't much matter if it doesn't go in.”

Along with his head coach, Washington Jr. said this team is continuing to show a lot of promise early and believes they are “just scratching the surface.

“We still got two guys hurt right now, including our former starter last year (Braxton Stacker) who hasn’t played a game yet this year. When everybody gets rolling and gets confident, it’s going to be trouble.”

What’s next?

SEMO will turn the page and get prepared for its trip to Conway, Ark. when the Redhawks face Central Arkansas on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m before facing UNC Asheville on Friday.

SEMO women's overmatched by Eastern Kentucky

It's been tough sledding for first-year head coach Briley Palmer and the SEMO women's basketball team so far.

The Redhawks (0-4) dropped a lopsided 89-61 loss to Eastern Kentucky (2-3) on Sunday afternoon at the Seabury Center in Berea, Ky.

Freshman Ainaya Williams shined, leading the team in points (12) and assists (2). Brianna Hill added 11 points, while star freshman Zoe Best had nine points on 3-of-8 shooting.

The Colonels used a huge 31-point fourth quarter to run away with the win, shooting 66.7% from the floor in the frame.

SEMO will return to the court on Monday, Nov. 25, when Palmer's squad takes on Southern Illinois at 6:30 p.m. in the home opener.