Redhawks MBB prevails in feisty road challenge in Evansville, stunning USI late

A big push down the stretch gave Southeast Missouri State men’s basketball its fifth consecutive victory Saturday night as it stunned Southern Indiana on the road, rallying to win 79-74 and end an unruly push from the Screaming Eagles.

Though Southeast was far and away ranked higher within the league than USI, the Eagles came out the gate roaring and kept the Redhawks at bay for most of the first half and even into the second half.

With a chance at taking the lead and then tying the game, Braxton Jones of USI missed the open 3-pointer, got his board on the wing and then smoked the tying layup right under the basket, ending what almost became a magical night on the flattest of notes.

Leading by 6, Southern Indiana held SEMO, now 15-10 and 10-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference, to a disappointing first half with a back-and-forth affair teetering toward the hosts at 36-35.

But how the Redhawks responded, led by Brendan Terry and Teddy Washington Jr., is what put the bow on a championship-level comeback and solidified their standing as the top team in the conference – a three-way tie as it stands.

Those two each put up 17 points in the victory, with the sensational Indiana State transfer Rob Martin adding another 15 while Braxton Stacker’s 16 added a major presence off the bench.

The bread and butter for Southeast, Washington Jr. continues to put up All-OVC level performances, and a 7-rebound, plus-12 night on the floor made him a can’t-miss talent as he helped will SEMO out of a slump and into an all-important road victory.

Hitting the final two free throws to make it a 5-point game in the final three seconds was the icing on the cake for Washington Jr., turning off the lights in Evansville as the Redhawks came through for a fifth consecutive victory.

For the Screaming Eagles, Damoni Harrison’s 25 and Jayland Randall’s 23 right behind him made life gruesome for the Redhawks, combining for 48 of USI’s 74 while Stephen Olowoniyi cooked up 14 off the bench while double-doubling with another 10 rebounds – somewhat mirroring a 6-board night for Stacker of Southeast.

USI, 4-10 in the OVC and 9-15 overall, remains in a tie at ninth place while Southeast officially ends the night in a tie with SIU-Edwardsville and Little Rock atop the Ohio Valley Conference.

Thursday night, briefly working into a tie with the Eagles of Morehead, Kentucky, the moment was stripped as the Cougars of SIUE used their extra game on the aforementioned two to claim sole possession of first place.

Now, however, with all teams at 14 games played, the first-place bid is official for Southeast as its eye at a top-two finish and an OVC Tournament bye is well within grasp.

That will be challenged, and then some, with a Tuesday night matchup at Little Rock. The Redhawks enter the capital city of Arkansas with sights set on furthering their quest at first place, and contesting it are the Trojans of UALR.

Hot in pursuit of that same first-place spot, the Trojans have home floor against Southeast with eyes set on a bye, and the loser of this game will drop into third place in the conference and out of that spot, for now at least.

With a 7 p.m. Tuesday tip at Stephens Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, the Redhawks enter one of their biggest matchups of the year, a rematch of a 73-71 Little Rock victory at the Show Me Center a month ago.

Southeast, red hot, aims to undo the last month of anguish. But with the home cooking Little Rock can bring, 7-3 on their floor this year, the Trojans are ready for battle.