Redhawks exhibit scoring ability

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team wasn't expected to receive much of a challenge in its exhibition opener.

Form held Tuesday night as the Redhawks overcame a sluggish start to destroy Hannibal-LaGrange 115-45 in front of an announced Show Me Center crowd of 1,008.

"All in all we did what we were supposed to do," Southeast coach Dickey Nutt said. "I was pleased with the unselfishness of our team. We had some good performances but certainly have a lot of room for improvement."

Hannibal-LaGrange, an NAIA program from Hannibal, Mo., that went 6-24 last season, led 12-9.

After that it was all Southeast, which used a 32-2 run to break things wide open. The Redhawks led 45-17 at halftime and outscored the Trojans 70-28 in the second half.

"We came out a little sluggish out of the gate, but we got it going," senior forward Tyler Stone said.

A blend of returning players and newcomers led the romp.

Stone, the Ohio Valley Conference preseason player of the year, had a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds while adding two blocks and two steals.

Stone, who hit 9 of 11 field-goals -- including his only 3-point attempt -- scored 15 points in the first half.

Senior point guard Lucas Nutt scored 12 points, including 7 of 7 from the free-throw line. He also had seven assists against no turnovers.

"I think we started to play a little better [after the slow start]," Lucas Nutt said. "I think everybody is playing real unselfish."

Senior guard A.J. Jones added nine points, four assists and a team-leading five steals.

"I thought Tyler was good. Lucas was his normal self, very good, and A.J. did some good things," Dickey Nutt said.

Several of Southeast's newcomers were impressive against the overmatched Trojans, led by junior guard/forward Jarekious Bradley, who struggled to find his stroke in the first half but exploded for 20 points in the second half to lead all scorers with 25 points. He also had eight rebounds.

Bradley, a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder who was a first-team junior-college All-American last year, shot 2 of 7 in the opening period and missed both of his 3-point attempts.

Bradley poured in 17 points over the first 10:30 of the second half, when he went 4 of 4 from beyond the arc. He finished the game 10 of 16 from the floor, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range. He missed just one shot in the second half.

"He had a good night," Dickey Nutt said. "He's tough, physical. He can go inside and out."

Bradley also had two of the biggest highlight-reel plays of the night -- both in the second half -- a one-hand dunk off an alley-oop feed from freshman guard Jamaal Calvin and a power jam over a helpless defender.

"My teammates put me in a situation to make plays. I started off slow, but I caught fire in the second half," said the soft-spoken Bradley with a smile. "My first year, getting adjusted to the Division I level. ... I just have to get used to it."

Calvin, an invited walk-on, scored all 16 of his points in the second half. He made 6 of 9 shots, including 4 of 7 3-pointers.

"I thought Jamaal came in and had some impressive minutes. He surprised me in a good way," Dickey Nutt said.

Redshirt freshman guard C.J. Reese had 12 points, four rebounds and four assists.

"C.J. gave us some good minutes," Nutt said.

The coach also had high praise for Antonius Cleveland, a 6-5 freshman guard who has stood out during practice and earned a start Tuesday.

Cleveland chipped in with seven points, four rebounds, four steals and two blocks. His activity defensively especially pleased Nutt.

"I thought he was really a bright spot. He's long and lanky. ... He did a lot of good things," Nutt said.

Caleb Woods, a walk-on junior college transfer guard, scored all 10 of his points in the second half.

"We've got a lot of new guys that can bring something different to the table," Lucas Nutt said.

The Redhawks began the game shooting 4 of 16 but wound up 41 of 68 (60.3 percent) as they dominated the smaller, slower Trojans inside and in transition.

Southeast also made 14 of 27 3-pointers (51.9 percent) after going just 3 of 10 in the first half.

The Redhawks finished with a 40-29 rebounding advantage and forced 31 turnovers -- 21 coming on steals -- while committing only seven turnovers.

"I think we came out good for our first exhibition game," Stone said.

All of Southeast's eligible players except one saw action, and all but one scored,

Junior college transfer guard Darrian Gray will miss the two-game exhibition schedule due to a bruised knee, although he should be ready to go when the Redhawks open the season Nov. 8 at Saint Louis University.

Southeast figures to receive a much stiffer test Saturday in its exhibition finale when Division II Ouachita Baptist -- coached by Nutt's brother Dennis -- visits the Show Me Center for an 8 p.m. tipoff.