Redhawks not sharp but still victorious

~ Southeast turned back Arkansas Tech 59-55.

It wasn't the kind of emphatic victory Southeast Missouri State was looking for to finish off its two-game exhibition schedule.

But the Redhawks, despite sputtering much of the way, did just enough to hold off Division II Arkansas Tech 59-55 at the Show Me Center Saturday night.

"Arkansas Tech played tough and you have to tip your hat to them," Southeast senior guard Roy Booker said. "But we should have won by a lot more."

Added sophomore point guard Paul Paradoski: "I think we kind of play to the level of our competition. But we'll be ready for Friday."

Friday night is when the Redhawks open the season, hosting Division II Truman State.

Southeast coach Gary Garner hopes the Redhawks can improve a lot between now and then -- because he knows his inexperienced team has a lot of ground to make up.

"We have such a long way to go, and we don't have a lot of time to get there," said Garner, whose squad won both its exhibition games, including a 13-point victory over Division II Missouri-St. Louis. "I think we're going to be a pretty good basketball team, but we're not close to being there yet."

Garner credited Arkansas Tech, coming off a 7-17 season, with a strong performance -- but he gave the Redhawks a major assist.

"I think they really played well, and we played pretty bad," Garner said. "The first half, defensively, I thought we were pretty good. I thought we lost our defensive intensity in the second half, and when that happens it tends to carry over to your offense."

Booker, a Montana transfer who practiced with Southeast last year but could not participate in games under NCAA transfer rules, continued to display his offensive prowess with a game-high 22 points. He also had five rebounds to tie for the team lead in that department.

"Roy can score," Garner said.

Paradoski continued to display his improved shooting touch, after he struggled in that department last year despite an otherwise solid freshman season that saw him lead the Ohio Valley Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio.

Paradoski scored 10 points as he hit four of nine shots, including two of six 3-pointers. He also had six assists, four rebounds and two steals against just one turnover.

"I've worked on my shot a lot, and I feel more confident with it," said Paradoski, who had the game's highlight-reel play with a spinning layup through traffic.

Senior center Waylon Francis was solid with eight points -- on four of six shooting -- five rebounds and four blocks.

"I thought Waylon played really well," Garner said.

Junior guard Terrick Willoughby also scored eight points, as he made two of three 3-pointers. He added five rebounds and three blocks.

Southeast, after trailing early, grabbed the lead for good midway through the first half.

Ahead 30-25 at halftime, the Redhawks appeared ready to rout Arkansas Tech when they opened up a 44-29 lead early in the final half.

But the Wonder Boys rallied. Down 54-42, they scored 10 straight points to pull with 54-52.

Booker made five of six free throws in the last 24 seconds to help Southeast hold on. Trailing 57-55 with under 10 seconds left, Arkansas Tech had a chance to tie but failed to convert. Booker's two free throws with 1.4 seconds left sealed the win.

"Any time you step on the court, it's for real," said Booker when asked if the Redhawks had trouble gearing up for exhibitions. "But now we can focus on the season."

Forward Rone Smith led Arkansas Tech with 15 points.