Redhawks wrap up preseason 2-0

~ Herring scored 19 points, including three 3s, to lead Southeast.

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team was taken to the wire during its exhibition opener.

There was nothing remotely resembling a close call as the Redhawks played their second and final exhibition game.

Two nights after rallying from an 11-point second-half deficit to slip past Division II Lincoln, the Redhawks routed Division II Missouri-Rolla 80-43 on Saturday.

"We came out more focused," sophomore point guard Roderick Pearson said. "I don't think we took Lincoln serious enough."

Southeast's Roderick Pearson drove past Missouri-Rolla's Owain Hall during the first half Saturday at the Show Me Center. (Aaron Eisenhauer)

After Lincoln bombed in 18 3-point baskets during its 102-96 loss, the Redhawks focused on shoring up their defense.

It was definitely shored up as the Redhawks held the Miners to 29.3 percent shooting (17-of-58), including 13.3 percent from 3-point range (2-of-15).

The Redhawks forced 19 turnovers, including several shot-clock violations, as the deliberate Miners generally used up their allotted 35 seconds.

"We played better defense. That was the emphasis," Pearson said. "Coach said we wanted them under 38 percent."

Southeast was also efficient offensively, shooting 52.6 percent (30-of-57).

"I thought we played good basketball. We shared the ball, we cut our turnovers down," said Southeast coach Scott Edgar, whose squad had 21 turnovers against Lincoln and 15 against UMR. "That group the other night, I've never been in a game where somebody made so many 3s, whether we were guarding them or not.

"But I think we had a better approach today."

For the second straight game, junior college transfer forward Jaycen Herring led the Redhawks in scoring despite not starting either contest.

Against Lincoln, Herring had 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting while not attempting a 3-pointer. Most of his baskets came either on dunks or short jumpers.

Saturday night, the athletic Herring displayed his outside shooting touch. He made all three of his 3-pointers and was 7-of-9 overall on his way to 19 points.

"We shoot a lot in practice. I had opportunities and knocked them down," Herring said. "I think I'm more a slasher, but I kind of take what the defense gives me."

The 6-foot-5 Herring has made an impression on Edgar.

"Jaycen showed us something new today," Edgar said. "In two games, he's almost had a point a minute. And the neat thing is, he's unselfish."

Pearson was Southeast's only other double-figure scorer as he had 11 points.

Sophomore forward Calvin Williams, a Colorado transfer, added nine points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Senior forward Brandon Foust, last year's leading scorer, saw his first action of the preseason and had eight points in 19 minutes.

Foust has been limited to on-and-off practice time by Edgar since he rejoined the squad after being temporarily suspended from the university following an altercation in a campus dormitory. He was not even at the Show Me Center on Thursday night.

But Edgar said he was glad to have Foust back in the fold.

"It was good to get Brandon out there," Edgar said. "I think as the game went on he got more comfortable."

Southeast, which never trailed and was tied just for a short period early, built a 37-20 halftime lead and quickly broke the game open early in the final period.

"We played better defense," Herring said. "Our focus was to contest every shot."

Now that the exhibition schedule is over, the Redhawks will set their sights on trying to pull off a major upset. They open the regular season Nov. 10 at Atlantic 10 Conference champion Xavier.

"These are just warmup laps," Edgar said of the exhibitions.

Then, looking toward the opener, Edgar said: "There will be a pretty tough warmup lap next Saturday."