MSU beats stubborn Redhawks

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team dug itself an early 11-point hole Saturday night.

Southeast hung tough with host Morehead State the rest of the way but never could make up that early deficit during a 64-52 loss in Morehead, Ky.

Southeast, suffering its second consecutive defeat following two straight wins, fell to 7-19 overall and 5-10 in Ohio Valley Conference play.

The Redhawks remained seventh in the 10-team OVC and still on pace to qualify for the eight-team conference tournament. They have three league games left.

MSU (19-8, 11-4) remained in second place, just one game behind defending champion Murray State. The Eagles swept the season series from Southeast by beating the Redhawks for the eighth straight time.

"Morehead State has a very good team and it's a loss, but I was very proud of our guys tonight," Southeast coach Dickey Nutt said. "Playing with that kind of desire and toughness. ... I told them your best is good enough for me."

MSU, which posted its seventh consecutive win, never could shake Southeast after building a 13-2 lead less than five minutes into the contest.

Southeast, trailing 34-23 at halftime, fell behind by 13 points but cut the deficit to 44-39 midway through the final period on a layup by junior guard Marcus Brister.

The Eagles scored six straight points, capped by a Kenneth Faried dunk, to go up 50-39 and Southeast got no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

MSU celebrated senior night by retiring the jersey of Faried, a senior forward who is among the OVC's all-time greats and is projected as a possible first-round NBA draft pick.

Faried, the nation's leading rebounder with more than 14 per game, posted his 21st double-double of the season and 78th of his career with 23 points and 16 rebounds.

Faried, less than 40 rebounds from passing Tim Duncan as the all-time leading rebounder in NCAA Division I men's basketball, added four steals, three blocks and two assists.

"He's a great player," Nutt said.

Junior forward Leon Powell paced Southeast with 11 points and seven rebounds.

Senior guard Anthony Allison and sophomore guard Lucas Nutt both added 10 points.

Brister continued his recent strong play with six points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

"Marcus was outstanding tonight," coach Nutt said.

The Redhawks continued to struggle at the free-throw line as they made just 5 of 14 (35.7 percent).

"We've been a poor free-throw shooting team all year long," Nutt said.

Southeast, which wrapped up a four-game road trip, returns to action Wednesday night by hosting Murray State in its final OVC home game of the season.