Iowa shoots down Redhawks

Any hopes the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team had of pulling off an upset ended early.

Hot-shooting Iowa took advantage of the cold-shooting Redhawks by scoring 18 of the game's first 21 points.

Things only got worse for the Redhawks, who were pounded 75-41 on Tuesday night in Iowa City, Iowa.

Iowa, coming off a 13-19 season that featured an eighth-place finish in the Big Ten Conference, improved to 5-0.

The Hawkeyes shot 48.3 percent from the field and made 13 of 30 3-pointers (43.3 percent).

BRIAN RAY ~ The GazetteIowa's Anthony Tucker pulls up for a 3-pointer over Southeast Missouri State's Johnny Hill during Tuesday's game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 75-41.

Southeast, which shot 22.4 percent from the field and missed all 11 of its 3-point attempts, fell to 1-3 with its third loss on the road against a major-conference opponent.

"We just couldn't get it going offensively. When we don't get going offensively early, we struggle," Southeast acting coach Zac Roman said. "We didn't execute in the half court like we have been. Guys were getting impatient."

The Redhawks also lost at New Mexico of the Mountain West Conference 102-59 and Kansas State of the Big 12 Conference 88-68.

With Iowa in a rebuilding period, the Redhawks were hopeful they could compete with the Hawkeyes and perhaps threaten an upset.

That didn't come close to materializing.

Southeast Missouri State's Calvin Williams (4) tries to make his way past Iowa's Cyrus Tate (44) during an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 75-41. (AP Photo/The Gazette,Brian Ray) ** MAGS OUT, INTERNET OUT, TV OUT **

Iowa led by double digits for the final 34 minutes en route to its most lopsided win of the season. Southeast fell behind 18-3 and got no closer than 11 points.

Iowa, hitting six of its first 10 3-pointers, led by 20 points in the first half before settling for a 35-19 halftime advantage.

Southeast scored the first three points of the second half to pull within 35-22, but Iowa answered with an 8-0 run.

The Hawkeyes romped the rest of the way, their biggest advantage being 35 points.

"It's disappointing," Roman said. "I don't think we came out and started the game with a lot of energy. I don't know why.

"At one point, I was telling the guys in a timeout to just have fun. They should be excited to play a Big Ten team, but we were flat."

Southeast made 11 of 49 shots from the field, including a combined 1 of 18 for senior guard Kenard Moore and senior forward Jaycen Herring, the team's top scorers.

Moore and Herring averaged a combined 35.3 points in the first three games, but totaled just 13 points Tuesday. Moore missed all seven of his 3-pointers.

"Kenard and Jaycen couldn't get it going offensively," Roman said. "When they're struggling from the field, I think we're going to struggle."

Junior forward Calvin Williams led Southeast with 10 points.

Junior forward LaMont Russell, who matched Herring with eight points, paced Southeast rebounders with six.

Freshman guards Anthony Tucker and Matt Gatens paced Iowa offensively with 14 and 12 points, respectively. They combined to make 6 of 12 3-pointers.

If there were any bright spots for the Redhawks, it was that they had only 11 turnovers and made 19 of 25 free throws to match their season average of 76 percent from the line.

"Hopefully we can keep shooting free throws well," Roman said.

Southeast again played without junior guard Jimmy Drew and junior forward Israel Kirk, meaning only seven players hit the court.

Drew, who is bothered by a foot problem and has not seen action this season, did dress out for the first time.

Kirk missed his second straight game with a sprained ankle.

"If it would have been a tight game, they both would have seen action," Roman said. "I just wanted to give them another day."

Tuesday's contest was part of the Las Vegas Invitational, which continues for the Redhawks with two games in Las Vegas.

Southeast plays Longwood (3-3) at 3 p.m. Friday and either Oakland (1-4) or Delaware State (1-6) on Saturday at a time to be determined.

The Redhawks beat Longwood 82-78 last season during a tournament in Chicago.

"We just have to regroup and get ready for these two games in Las Vegas," Roman said.