Redhawks cure slow starts in win against Jacksonville State

~ Southeast came out strong and defeated Jacksonville State 78-66

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team identified one objective entering Monday night's game against visiting Jacksonville State.

"Get out of the blocks early. We preached that," junior forward Cameron Butler.

Mission accomplished.

The Redhawks scored eight of the first 10 points and led from wire to wire during a 78-66 victory that broke a 14-game Ohio Valley Conference home losing streak dating back to the 2007-08 season.

Southeast forward Jajuan Maxwell stretches for a rebound Monday against Jacksonville State at the Show Me Center. (Kit Doyle)

"The last 48 hours we preached defense and getting out of that block," junior guard Anthony Allison said. "I feel like we stepped up."

Southeast improved to 5-9 overall and 2-2 in the OVC. JSU fell to 5-8 and 1-2.

"It feels real good," Butler said. "We finally played good at home."

Getting behind early has been a theme for the Redhawks in home games this season. It was particularly glaring during Saturday's 82-73 OVC loss to Tennessee Tech in which the Eagles scored 16 of the first 18 points.

"I was so proud of the guys, so proud of the way we bounced back," Southeast first-year coach Dickey Nutt said. "Our effort, especially the first five minutes. ... Everything we preached the last 48 hours, we did tonight."

In an effort to jump-start the Redhawks, Nutt changed his lineup and gave senior wing Johnny Hill his first start of the season in place of freshman guard Marland Smith.

Hill, who has played sparingly this year, scored just four points in 20 minutes but provided an early boost with his physical style of play.

"He hadn't played a whole lot, but he's lost 25 pounds [since the start of practice in October] and he gave us some good minutes," Nutt said.

Said Butler: "We switched our lineup to be bigger and stronger. Johnny helped us out."

The Redhawks won despite making just 27 of 45 free throws -- 60 percent, which is below their OVC-worst figure of 64 percent entering the night -- and having an opposing player turn in a record performance.

Trenton Marshall, a 6-foot-5 junior wing, poured in 37 points, 28 in the second half as he almost single-handedly rallied JSU.

Marshall, who entered play as the OVC's No. 2 scorer with a 17.6 average, compiled the most points by a JSU player on the Division I level. His output also is a conference high for this season.

"Our guys deserve a lot of credit because they withstood a great player," Nutt said. "We couldn't stop him."

Marshall, the nation's No. 2 junior college scorer last year with a 25.5 average, hit 13 of 23 field goals, including 4 of 9 from 3-point range.

"Big time," Allison said of Marshall. "Big-time players make big-time plays."

Despite struggling with free-throw shooting most of the way, the Redhawks were clutch from the line down the stretch.

Southeast made 11 of 14 foul shots in the last five minutes, including 7 of 8 in the final 1 minute, 31 seconds.

Butler was just 12 of 21 for the game -- those attempts are one off the school record -- but hit 5 of his final 6 in the last 1:31.

"We struggle with free throws, but we made them when they counted," Butler said. "That's all that matters."

Allison tied his Southeast high with 18 points, 14 in the first half. He also had four assists against no turnovers while playing a team-high 36 minutes.

"Anthony deserves a lot of credit," Nutt said. "In the first half, he really carried us."

Butler scored 16 points, 12 in the second half. He added five rebounds and two steals.

"Cameron had an outstanding game," Nutt said.

Junior guard Sam Pearson had 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds to go along with two assists and two steals.

"Sam played great," Nutt said.

Smith also scored 11 points. He hit 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, including two big ones in the second half while JSU was making its comeback.

"Coach Nutt just told me don't let the lineup change change my game," Smith said of not starting. "I tried my best to keep the same intensity I've played with all year."

Junior forward Jajuan Maxwell, making his second straight start and just his third of the season, scored all 10 of his points in the first half. He added four rebounds.

"Jajuan had his best game of the season," Nutt said.

Southeast also got nice boosts from senior forward LaMont Russell (four points, six rebounds, two assists), sophomore forward Rae-Vonn Banks (one point, six rebounds, two blocks) and freshman guard LaQuentin Miles (three points, four rebounds, two assists).

"It was a great team win tonight," Nutt said. "It starts with defense. I thought we were getting every loose ball in the first half."

Southeast, which had just 12 turnovers in the contest, built a 32-16 lead late in the opening period before entering the break ahead 36-23.

The Redhawks opened 16-point lead at 41-25 in the second half, but Marshall caught fire and JSU closed to within 67-64 with just less than four minutes left.

But then the Redhawks began to hit their free throws as they closed out the victory.

"Every game is important, but we had to start with this one," Allison said.

Southeast plays its next three games on the road, starting Saturday against Eastern Illinois in a contest that will be nationally televised by ESPNU.