Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team fades in loss to Mizzou

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team put a scare into 25th-ranked Missouri for one half Friday night.

But the explosive Tigers pulled away early in the second half for an 83-68 win in the season opener before an announced crowd of 9,612 at Mizzou Arena.

It was the first meeting between the programs since the 1997-98 campaign. Southeast is 0-6 all-time against MU and 0-8 against ranked Division I opponents.

"A loss is a loss, but we can build on this," said Southeast coach Dickey Nutt, whose squad was missing all-conference senior forward Leon Powell, who was out with a sprained knee. "We played an outstanding basketball team tonight, but I couldn't be more proud of our guys. We fought hard."

MU needed to score the last six points of the opening half just to lead 38-36 at the break.

Southeast Missouri State's Tyler Stone, top, leaps as he tries to block the shot of Missouri's Kadeem Green, bottom, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won 83-68. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

The Tigers began the final period with a 17-6 run over the first 5 minutes, 35 seconds to build a 55-42 advantage.

"The first five minutes of the second half hurt us," Nutt said. "We didn't have the same intensity."

Southeast never cut the deficit under double figures again.

After MU twice built 17-point leads, Southeast cut the deficit to 74-62 with under five minutes left before the Tigers finally put the Redhawks away.

"Energy and lack of focus," Southeast senior guard Marcus Brister said about the Redhawks' problems at the start of the second half. "Their level picked up, and our level dropped. Against a Big 12 team on the road, that can't happen.

Southeast Missouri State coach Dickey Nutt watches his team play Missouri during the first half Friday.

"But I'm proud of our effort. It shows what we're capable of."

It was a much better performance than during Monday's exhibition loss to Division II Harding.

"I think we were focused. I think the loss we had the other night, we were embarrassed," Brister said.

Sophomore forward Tyler Stone, who scored 22 points in limited action as an MU freshman in 2009-10 before transferring, had a strong showing against his former squad.

Stone led the Redhawks with 18 points, 10 coming in the first half. He hit 7 of 14 field-goal attempts and grabbed six rebounds.

Missouri's Marcus Denmon, left, dribbles as Southeast Missouri State's Marcus Brister falls back during the second half Friday in Columbia. Mo. Missouri won 83-68. (L.G. Patterson ~ Associated Press)

"He was tough. I think he proved he could play at this level," Nutt said.

Stone said he had no special motivation facing the Tigers.

"It was just another game, trying to get this win," he said. "We were feeling good [about the first half]. We fell off a little bit in the second half, but we picked it back up. We have a lot to build on."

Brister had a career-high 15 points. He hit 6 of 9 shots, all from in close, while adding six assists and five rebounds against two turnovers.

Touted freshman forward Nino Johnson was impressive in his collegiate debut with 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds. He made 5 of 7 shots, including several dunks.

"There was a stretch where he made some plays that were spectacular," Nutt said. "He's only going to get better."

Nutt was referring to a pair of highlight-reel plays in the opening period.

Johnson threw down a follow dunk, then later came up with a steal on MU's end, dribbled behind his back and fed a no-look pass to junior guard Marland Smith for a layup.

"I was kind of nervous. I didn't know whether to give it up or keep going," a grinning Johnson said.

Added Johnson of his overall performance, "Everything felt good. I got nervous at first, but my teammates calmed me down."

Smith's bucket off Johnson's assist gave Southeast a 32-26 lead with 4:32 left in the period.

The Redhawks also were ahead 36-32 before MU finished the half with a 6-0 run. Sophomore guard Phil Pressey drove for a layup at the buzzer to make it 38-36.

Southeast scored the first seven points of an opening half that featured seven lead changes, four ties and 52-percent shooting by both squads.

"Everyone's always amped up for the first game of the season, ready to play," said first-year MU coach Frank Haith after the Tigers stretched their home winning streak against nonconference opponents to 59 games, dating to the 2005-06 opener. "They are an in-state team and have guys that can play. You've got to give those guys some credit."

All-Big 12 Conference senior guard Marcus Denmon and senior forward Ricardo Ratliffe paced the Tigers with 20 points apiece.

"Give credit to SEMO. They came out with a lot of energy and they played hard and made shots early," Denmon said. "Some of those shots start to come up short as you play defense, and that allows you to get some misses and get your rhythm going. Also, we boosted our energy level in the second half."

Senior guard Kim English added 19 points, 15 in the second half. He hit 5 of 9 3-pointers, 4 of 6 in the final period.

Southeast wound up shooting 47.4 percent and had 14 turnovers. MU shot 46.6 percent and committed 10 turnovers. The Tigers outrebounded the Redhawks 36-31 after trailing on the boards 17-13 at halftime.

"Coach challenged us [at halftime]," English said. "He's confident, because we prepared well all week. He told us we needed to step up in the second half, and we responded with a better start defensively in the second half."

Southeast plays its home opener at 7 p.m. Monday against NAIA Harris-Stowe.