Skyhawks top Redhawks

MARTIN, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State has struggled offensively so far this season.

But the Redhawks' offensive problems reached new depths in the first half Saturday night, which helped create a hole Southeast could not dig out of.

The result was a resounding defeat as host Tennessee-Martin coasted to a 72-60 victory in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams.

A late run cut what had been a 19-point UTM lead to six in the final minute, but the Skyhawks made their free throws down the stretch to improve their record to 3-1 and drop Southeast to 2-3.

"We're just not shooting the ball well," Southeast coach Gary Garner said. "Offensively we're just not very efficient. I don't know."

Southeast entered the game shooting 38.2 percent from the field and averaging 63 points per game, although the Redhawks were hitting a solid 40.7 percent from 3-point range.

Saturday's first half saw Southeast shoot 26.9 percent (7 of 26) and miss all seven of its 3-point attempts. UTM also struggled offensively in the opening period as the Redhawks trailed 26-16 at the intermission.

"Offensively, as a team, we're just struggling," said junior guard Terrick Willoughby, who was one of the few Southeast players to not struggle with his shot Saturday. "We're not playing as disciplined as we should be. In the first half we tried to do too much one on one and it failed.

"We just have to keep working and hopefully our offense will get going."

Willoughby, who scored a game-high 24 points -- he hit nine of 15 field goals and five of nine 3-pointers -- came out on fire in the second half to get the Redhawks back within striking distance.

Willoughby scored Southeast's first 16 points in the final period -- he was perfect during that stretch, hitting four 3-pointers and two regular field goals -- over the opening 5 minutes as the Redhawks pulled within 35-32.

"We were down and I felt I needed to give my teammates a boost," said Willoughby, who finished with 19 second-half points.

But UTM star Jeremy Kelly was there to pick his team up. The senior guard, who missed all of last season with an injury, scored 13 points during a 16-8 run that boosted the Skyhawks' lead to 51-40 with 8 minutes left.

"I saw my teammates not making shots, and the penetration was there the whole game," said Kelly, who scored 19 of his team-high 23 points in the second half. "We came out in the second half and turned it up."

UTM went ahead 57-40 a short time later and led 63-44 with under four minutes remaining.

Southeast hit four late 3-pointers to make things a bit interesting at 66-60 with 54 seconds left, but the Skyhawks closed out the victory by making their last six free throws in the final 46 seconds.

Senior guard Roy Booker scored 16 points for Southeast, but he continued to struggle with his shooting, making five of 17, including two of eight 3-pointers. Booker entered the game averaging 19.3 points but shooting just 36.6 percent.

"Roy has struggled every game," Garner said. "We thought he'd shoot a lot higher percentage. He just has not found his rhythm."

Junior forward Andrais Thornton added 10 points and eight rebounds for Southeast.

Senior guard Jared Newson scored 19 points for UTM. He entered the game averaging 21.3 points, just behind Kelly's 22.7 mark.

"They make us go," UTM coach Bret Campbell said. "They make you a lot better coach."

Southeast, which held a few early leads, scored just one point over the final 9:20 of the first half as UTM used a 12-1 run to go from 15-14 down to 26-16 ahead at halftime.

"I'm not sure what it is," junior guard Eric Burtin said of the Redhawks' offense. "We're patient some times, and other times we rush into things.

"There's a quote that practice makes perfect. We just have to keep working."

Garner echoed similar thoughts. The Redhawks shot better in the second half, making 46.4 percent overall and hitting eight of 13 3-pointers, but they wound up at just 37 percent from the field for the game.

"If I had the answer, I'd tell you," Garner said. "We just have to keep working and working, and hopefully the offense will come around."