Redhawks handle future OVC member

~ Southeast beat SIU-Edwardsville 68-49

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team was in desperate need of a win.

Southeast got it via one of its most lopsided victories of the season.

The host Redhawks allowed a season-low point total in routing future Ohio Valley Conference member Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville 68-49 on Tuesday night.

"Glad to get a win," said Southeast coach Dickey Nutt, whose squad recorded its second-largest victory margin over a Division I opponent. "I told our guys never underestimate how precious it is to win."

Southeast Missouri State's LaQuentin Miles drives against SIUE's Kevin Stineman during the first half Tuesday at the Show Me Center. (TIM BRUMITT)

The Redhawks, breaking a three-game losing streak and winning for just the second time in their last eight contests, improved to 7-15.

SIUE, which will join the OVC in the 2011-12 season, fell to 3-19.

"We played pretty good," freshman guard Marland Smith said. "We could have played better, but it's good to get the win."

Smith, continuing his strong rookie season, led Southeast offensively with 17 points. He punctuated his night with a break-away dunk in the closing minutes.

Junior guard Anthony Allison added 12 points and made both of his 3-point attempts as he remained among the OVC leaders in accuracy from beyond the arc.

But perhaps Southeast's most valuable performer was junior forward Eric McCrary, who has seen spot action this season and had not played at all in the previous two games.

McCrary scored seven points, grabbed a team-high six rebounds and dished out three assists to match his previous total from the entire season.

McCrary's biggest contributions came toward the end of the first half, after SIUE had rallied to go ahead 20-19 for its only lead of the night.

Sensing the Redhawks needed a spark, Nutt sent in the high-energy McCrary. It didn't take long for him to make a big difference.

After a Southeast free throw tied things at 20-20, McCrary fed a backdoor pass to freshman guard Derek Thompson for a layup that put the Redhawks ahead 22-20.

SIUE pulled into a 22-22 deadlock before McCrary had a hand in six more straight Southeast points.

First McCrary scored on a layup with 1 minute, 42 seconds left to give Southeast a 24-22 lead that they never relinquished.

Then McCrary hit junior guard Sam Pearson with a backdoor pass for a layup at the 1:07 mark.

Finally McCrary made two free throws with 38 seconds left to send Southeast into the locker room up 28-22.

"Eric came in and really provided a spark. He ought to be a great example to young players," Nutt said. "You keep a great attitude every day and when you're called upon you make the most of your opportunity."

McCrary entered the night averaging three points and less than two rebounds in less than nine minutes of playing time.

"Any time you can bring a spark off the bench, it's always a good thing," he said. "Anything you can contribute off the bench."

McCrary has been one of Southeast's biggest vocal leaders all season regardless of how much he plays.

"It's up and down. You understand that," McCrary said of playing time. "Coach always preaches keep practicing hard and it will come."

After McCrary's boost to end the first half, Southeast scored the first 13 points of the final period to complete an overall 19-0 run and go up 41-22.

"I thought in the first five minutes of the second half we set the tone," Nutt said.

SIUE made one more push, closing to within 42-35, but a 22-4 Southeast surge opened up a 64-39 bulge and sealed the win.

Southeast shot a solid 47.9 percent from the field, held SIUE to 30.4 percent and had a 30-12 edge in points in the paint.

"We took two lumps on the road [last week]," Allison said. "We went back to basics ... practiced hard, had to come out with high effort, high intensity."

Southeast played its seventh straight game without junior forward Cameron Butler, who has a foot injury. Butler is the Redhawks' top scorer in OVC play and No. 2 rebounder overall.

Nutt said Butler remains questionable for Saturday's OVC home matchup with Eastern Illinois.