Southeast men's basketball team sticks with Hogs

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team still is winless following Wednesday night's loss at the University of Arkansas.

But coach Dickey Nutt came away feeling much better about his Redhawks (0-5), who pushed heavily favored Arkansas most of the way before falling short 66-56.

"It's a loss, and at the end of the day we're 0-5, but we've improved as a team," Nutt said. "I was so proud of our effort, the way we competed and handled the atmosphere.

"Our guys really fought hard. I thought we out-toughed them in a lot of ways."

The Razorbacks of the Southeastern Conference improved to 3-0. They had routed their first two opponents -- Florida Gulf Coast and Grambling, which both beat Southeast -- by an average of 33 points.

Arkansas' Glenn Bryant is fouled by Southeast Missouri State's Waylon Jones, top right, during the first half Wednesday in Fayetteville, Ark. (APRIL BROWN ~ Associated Press)

Southeast trailed just 34-30 at halftime and was within eight points late.

"It was a very, very solid effort," Nutt said. "We had our chances, if we hit a few shots."

Turnovers ultimately foiled the Redhawks' upset bid. They committed 23 turnovers and were outscored 23-4 in points off turnovers.

Southeast had its best rebounding performance so far with a 46-35 advantage. The Redhawks had a 22-13 edge in offensive rebounds, leading to a 21-7 margin in second-chance points.

"We had a lot of hustle stats. Twenty-two offensive rebounds against an athletic team, that's all heart," Nutt said.

Southeast Missouri State's Marcus Brister loses control of the ball as Arkansas' Glenn Bryant defends Wednesday.

The Redhawks shot just 33.3 percent but held Arkansas to 40.4 percent in their best defensive performance.

"Our team defense was so much better, our rebounding was so much better," Nutt said.

Junior forward Leon Powell, Southeast's leading scorer and rebounder, had 12 points and seven rebounds.

Junior college transfer guard Marcus Brister scored a season-high 10 points while adding six rebounds and two steals although he did commit five turnovers.

"I thought Marcus was fantastic," Nutt said.

Senior guard Anthony Allison rounded out Southeast's double-figure scorers with 10 points.

The Redhawks got a lift from rugged juco transfer guard/forward Nathan Schulte, who had seen little action in the first four contests.

Schulte grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and scored four points in 23 minutes off the bench.

"I told Nathan the biggest thing is the way he handled the last few games," Nutt said. "It would have been easy to duck his head, why he hadn't been playing. ...

"He got hurt early and it kind of set him back. He did a super job of just getting out there and practicing. We need his toughness out there."

Redshirt freshman point guard Lucas Nutt, making his first career start -- he and regular starting point guard Brister were in the lineup together -- had eight points and five rebounds.

Southeast also received a solid contribution off the bench from sophomore juco transfer forward Waylon Jones with four points, five rebounds and two blocks.

"I was real pleased with a lot of performances," coach Nutt said.

Junior guard Rotnei Clarke, among the nation's premier shooters, paced Arkansas with 19 points. He made 3 of 5 from 3-point range.

The Redhawks led 4-0 early. It was 6-6 when Arkansas ran off seven straight points. The Razorbacks never relinquished the advantage but also could not shake the visitors.

Southeast fell behind by 10 points late in the half but closed to within 34-30 at the intermission.

"I thought in the first half we really played tough," coach Nutt said. "When we got down 10, we could have really dropped our heads and got down by 20 or so. We showed a lot of character."

Lucas Nutt hit a 3-pointer to start the final period, cutting the deficit to 34-33. Arkansas scored the next nine points to go up 43-33 and Southeast got no closer than eight points.

Arkansas' biggest lead was 54-39 before Southeast pulled within eight points twice late.

The Redhawks were without juco transfer guard Nick Niemczyk, their second-leading scorer whose surgically repaired knee has been giving him trouble although he has continued to play through the pain.

Nutt said Southeast's medical staff recommended that Niemczyk take off a few days.

And senior forward Cameron Butler, who has problems with both feet, missed his third straight game. His future status is uncertain.

ASU up next

The Redhawks, after playing four of their first five games on the road, now have three straight Show Me Center dates beginning Saturday against Arkansas State in a 4:05 p.m. tipoff that will be televised by WQWQ.

ASU, where Nutt spent more than two decades, including 13 seasons as coach from 1995 through 2008, also is off to an 0-5 start, marking the first time since the 1967-68 season that the Red Wolves have lost their first five games.

Four of ASU's losses have been by nine points or less. The Red Wolves have not yet played at home, with one true road game and four neutral site contests.

The Red Wolves had a solid season last year, going 17-14 overall and 11-7 in the Sun Belt Conference to finish second in the West Division.

ASU routed Southeast 73-49 last year at the Show Me Center.

Martavius Adams, a 6-foot-8, 255-pound junior forward, leads the Red Wolves in scoring with an average of 13.5 points per game. He is second in rebounding at 6.3.

Adams was ASU's top rebounder and No. 2 scorer last season with marks of 11.6 points and 7.5 boards.

"They've played a tough schedule," Nutt said. "We know they're going to be very tough. We know it's going to be a big challenge for us."

Nutt said he is hopeful that Niemczyk will be able to play against ASU.

Saturday's contest will mark the Redhawks' final tuneup before they begin Ohio Valley Conference play Thursday at home against Austin Peay.