Redhawks' offense finds the touch

~ Southeast evened its record with an 81-49 victory over Central Methodist.

For one night at least, Southeast Missouri State's offensive problems were only a fading memory.

The Redhawks, clicking on virtually every cylinder, enjoyed their first blowout win of the season as they blasted NAIA Central Methodist 81-49 on Friday at the Show Me Center.

"We definitely needed a game like this," sophomore point guard Paul Paradoski said. "It should definitely help our confidence."

Southeast, which improved to 4-4, had posted its previous three wins by a total of 11 points. That includes a three-point comeback victory over Division II Truman State.

"We really wanted to play well and win this game like we should win it, which we did," Southeast coach Gary Garner said.

Particularly pleasing for the Redhawks was the fact they finally came out of their season-long collective shooting slump.

Southeast entered the contest hitting just 38.5 percent of its field-goal attempts and averaging only 63.9 points per game. Only once in their first seven games had the Redhawks shot better than 41 percent, and that was a modest 47.4-percent performance.

But against Central Methodist (5-6), the Redhawks' offense ran smoothly, leading to quality shots inside and outside virtually all night as they reached a season-high point total.

The Redhawks wound up at 59.2 percent (29 of 49), including 47.6 percent from 3-point range (10 of 21). They also hit 13 of 17 free throws (76.5 percent) and held a 49-20 rebounding advantage.

"We shot the ball well, and we got good shots," Garner said. "We're not going to shoot this kind of percentage most nights, but we're trying to get the ball inside more and I think that made a difference."

Said junior forward Andrais Thornton: "We went inside out instead of outside in. Coach has been stressing all week in practice to get the ball inside."

Paradoski was surprisingly the Redhawks' most effective offensive weapon as he scored a career high 20 points while not missing a shot.

Paradoski heats up

Paradoski, who has for the most part struggled with his offense while at Southeast -- although he has run the team efficiently -- was seven of seven from the field, including four of four from 3-point range. He also made both of his foul shots, and added eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals, although he wasn't pleased with his six turnovers.

"I have been working on my shot and I was happy to hit a few today," said Paradoski, who entered the game shooting 34.3 percent from the field and 28.6 percent on 3-pointers. "Making as many shots as I did will help my confidence. But that's way too many turnovers."

Senior guard Roy Booker, the Redhawks' leading scorer at just over 19 points per game, led the Redhawks with 22 points. He hit four of seven 3-pointers.

"It was a good game for everybody," Booker said. "We needed it."

Junior guard Terrick Willoughby scored 13 points, while Thornton added 10 points and nine rebounds. Junior center Tyrell White grabbed eight rebounds off the bench.

The Eagles, who shot just 29.4 percent and made only four of 19 3-pointers, scored the game's first basket and trailed 14-13 midway through the opening half.

But then the Redhawks gained control, outscoring the Eagles 26-10 the rest of the period to go ahead 40-23 at the intermission.

Southeast scored the first 15 points of the second half to open up a 55-23 lead and the rout was really on. It was 81-40 with under three minutes remaining, and the Eagles scored the final nine points to make things a bit less lopsided.

"It's about time we beat someone like we should," said Paradoski, who before Friday had never scored more than 10 points in a game at Southeast. "We struggled to beat Truman State early in the season, and we really focused on not taking these guys lightly."

About the only negative in Garner's eyes were Southeast's 28 turnovers, although a good portion of those came in the final minutes after the Redhawks had gone ahead by more than 40 points.

"A lot of those came at the end when things got sloppy, but that's still too many," Garner said.

The Redhawks were so far ahead for the first time all season that Garner was able to get junior walk-on Jared Ritter from Advance High School his first action of the year. Ritter played the final 2:29, although he did not attempt a shot.

"I was so happy to get Jared in the game," Garner said.

Now the Redhawks will hope Friday's performance carries over when Ohio Valley Conference play resumes Monday night at Samford, as Southeast begins a two-game OVC road trip that concludes Wednesday night at Jacksonville State. The Redhawks are 1-2 in the league.

"I think we needed this, playing Samford next," Thornton said. "Hopefully we can keep playing this way."

Noteworthy

• Booker, a transfer from Montana playing his first and only season with the Redhawks, will be back at the Show Me Center today for Southeast's graduation ceremonies.

Booker will receive a degree in university studies, then continue to play the second semester while taking graduate courses.

"I'm excited about graduating," Booker said. "My family will be here and it should be a lot of fun."