Redhawks, coach get first win

~ Southeast downed Northern Illinois in overtime to end the nation's longest losing streak

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team no longer carries the nation's longest losing streak.

Southeast got that monkey off its back and also handed Dickey Nutt his first win as the Redhawks' coach by stunning host Northern Illinois 70-64 in overtime Sunday.

The Redhawks improved to 1-2 while dropping the Huskies, who compete in the Mid-American Conference, to 1-3.

NIU beat Southeast 97-73 last season in Cape Girardeau, part of a 19-game losing streak to end the year for the Redhawks. That string stood at 21 before Sunday.

"I am so proud of our team," Nutt said. "Those guys hung in there and fought. If I could have captured that locker room. ... There was not a dry eye in that dressing room. There are very few times I have been in a locker room that jubilant."

Nutt said he was particularly happy for the four returning players who endured last year's 3-27 season that featured the long losing streak.

"I'm so especially proud of those four guys," Nutt said. "Just seeing the look on their faces."

Southeast was able to regroup after NIU freshman Tony Nixon forced overtime with a 3-pointer from about 25 feet away at the end of regulation. That pulled the Huskies into a 57-57 tie.

Nutt said he instructed his players to commit a foul with under five seconds left, before UNI could attempt a 3-point shot.

Undaunted, Southeast outscored NIU 13-7 in the five-minute extra period. The Redhawks hit 3 of 4 field goals and 6 of 8 free throws during overtime.

"The thing I'm most proud of is how we battled back after they hit that final shot," Nutt said. "That last shot ripped their hearts out. We could have folded the tent. But we showed tremendous character."

NIU scored the first basket of overtime, but freshman guard Derek Thompson buried a 3-pointer to put Southeast ahead 60-59. The Redhawks never let go of the lead.

Thompson followed with a basket to make it 62-59. After NIU pulled within 62-61, junior guard Sam Pearson scored three straight points for a 65-61 advantage with under two minutes remaining.

Southeast iced things from the free-throw line as junior forward Cameron Butler hit 5 of 6 foul shots in the final 35 seconds.

"We had so many guys contribute," Nutt said. "I could go on and on."

Thompson led Southeast with 19 points. He hit 4 of 7 3-pointers after he had missed all 10 of his 3-point attempts in the first two games.

"What a game he had shooting the basketball," Nutt said.

Butler had 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

Junior point guard Anthony Allison had 11 points, three rebounds and two assists against just one turnover while playing a team-high 43 minutes.

Senior forward LaMont Russell, among the returning players, scored six points and pulled down 16 rebounds as Southeast won the battle of the boards 42-34.

The Redhawks had been out-rebounded by an average of 11 in their first two games.

"LaMont was a beast in there," Nutt said. "What a job he did."

Pearson contributed eight points, five rebounds and a team-high five assists.

"Anthony and Sam really did a good job handling the ball," Nutt said.

Southeast also got a lift from the return of freshman backup point guard Lucas Nutt, the coach's son who saw his first action after being sidelined by back problems.

"It was good to have him back out there," Dickey Nutt said.

Thompson scored 13 first-half points as Southeast overcame an early 12-4 deficit to lead 30-23 at the intermission.

The Redhawks built two 12-point margins early in the second half before the Huskies stormed back.

NIU regained the lead midway through the period. Southeast surged back ahead by five points three times and continued to hold a slim advantage but could not shake the Huskies.

Junior forward Jajuan Maxwell, another returning player, hit two free throws with 13 seconds left to put Southeast up 57-54. Nixon's big shot then forced overtime before the Redhawks regrouped.

"We came into a very tough place and beat a quality opponent," Nutt said. "Winning on the road is never easy."

Southeast finally got its offense untracked as the Redhawks shot 48.1 percent from the field. They were even better from 3-point range at 53.8 percent (7 of 13).

The Redhawks shot 29.5 percent in the first two contests -- losses to Saint Louis 59-41 and Arkansas State 73-49 -- while making just 2 of 18 3-pointers (11.1 percent).

"It was nice to hit a couple of shots," Nutt said.

Southeast held NIU to 36.8 percent from the field and 5 of 18 from beyond the arc (27.8 percent).

"We did some good things defensively," Nutt said.

Nutt said it was good to see the Redhawks bounce back from Wednesday's 73-49 home rout at the hands of Arkansas State.

"We have guys with great character," Nutt said. "I felt like we were embarrassed on our home floor, but we bounced back with great practices.

"We set the tempo on everything we did offensively and defensively. I told the team we deserved to win this game."

Southeast returns to action Tuesday night when it hosts Eastern Michigan, another Mid-American Conference squad.