Redhawks fall to 0-2 with loss to K-State

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team finally got its offense and rebounding cranked up.

It wasn't enough to pull off an upset, but it was encouraging for acting coach Zac Roman.

The Redhawks lost 88-68 to Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan., on Sunday, but they outscored the Big 12 Conference squad 52-49 in the second half.

"I was really proud of our guys. They played hard," Roman said. "I was very proud of the way we ended the game."

After Southeast (0-2) was blasted 102-59 at New Mexico in Friday's season opener, Kansas State threatened to beat the Redhawks just about as bad.

ORLIN WAGNER ~ Associated PressKansas State forward Luis Colon grabs a rebound against Southeast Missouri State forward LaMont Russell during the first half Sunday in Manhattan, Kan.

The Wildcats (2-0) jumped out to a 31-6 lead and were ahead 39-16 at halftime in the game that was part of the Las Vegas Invitational.

Southeast had 14 first-half turnovers and was outrebounded 34-19 in the period. The Redhawks shot just 17.2 percent from the field in the half.

"We had a slow start," Roman said. "We just couldn't get anything going offensively.

"In the second half we started running out stuff. Shots were falling and we crashed the boards."

The Redhawks scored nearly as many points in the second half as they did the entire game at New Mexico, and they outrebounded the Wildcats 28-16 over the last 20 minutes. Southeast also had just seven second-half turnovers.

Southeast Missouri State forward Jaycen Herring shoots over Kansas State guard Denis Clemente during the first half.

Senior guard Kenard Moore scored a career-high 31 points, 26 coming in the second half.

Moore hit five of nine 3-pointers in the final period after going one of eight from beyond the arc in the first half.

"Kenard had a great game," Roman said.

Sophomore forward Jajuan Maxwell, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, had the first double-double of his Southeast career with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

"Jajuan played really well," Roman said.

Kansas State forward Darren Kent, right, shoots over Southeast Missouri State forward LaMont Russell (34) during the second half of their NCAA college basketball game in Manhattan, Kan., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008. Kent scored 15 points to help Kansas State to an 88-68 win over Southeast Missouri State. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Junior college transfer LaMont Russell, a 6-foot-6 forward, pulled down 17 rebounds against the much taller Wildcats.

"LaMont chases everything off the glass," Roman said.

Southeast hung with Kansas State in the second half despite senior forward Jaycen Herring fouling out with about 11 minutes left after scoring only seven points.

Herring led the Redhawks with 21 points against New Mexico and was also their top scorer last season.

The Redhawks, who had just seven scholarship players in uniform, also went most of the second half without juco transfer forward Israel Kirk -- their tallest available player at 6-7 -- after he suffered a foot injury.

ORLIN WAGNER ~ Associated PressKansas State guard Fred Brown passes around Southeast Missouri State forward LaMont Russell during the first half Sunday in Manhattan, Kan. Brown scored 21 points to help Kansas State to an 88-68 victory.

Roman did not know the extent of Kirk's injury.

Sophomore guard Fred Brown led four Kansas State players in double figures with 21 points.

Darren Kent, a 6-11 senior forward, had a double-double for the Wildcats with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Although Southeast never threatened the Kansas State lead in the second half, the Redhawks got as close as 15 points at 46-31.

Southeast shot 47.4 percent in the final period.

"I think we're growing as a team. We're getting better," Roman said.

Junior guard Jimmy Drew did not dress for the first two games of the season as a disciplinary measure, although Roman gave no specific reason for Drew's benching.

Southeast will return to action Friday with its first home game as NAIA Culver-Stockton visits the Show Me Center for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.

Friday's contest will mark the return of junior forward Calvin Williams -- at 6-9 Southeast's tallest player -- who missed the first two games while serving a suspension.

Roman said Drew also would return for Friday's contest.