Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team falls to Harding in exhibition game

~ Redhawks sustain injury in 68-63 exhibition loss to Division II Harding University

Southeast Missouri State men's basketball coach Dickey Nutt wanted a tougher exhibition opponent after the Redhawks had little trouble in last year's two preseason games.

Nutt got even more than he bargained for Monday night as Division II Harding stunned the Redhawks 68-63 at the Show Me Center in Southeast's lone exhibition contest.

"We're disappointed because we didn't win. We were expected to win," Nutt said. "But this was a great test for us. It lets us know we're not as good as we think we are.

"I give them credit. I knew this team was very good. I knew this team would challenge us in a lot of ways."

Southeast Missouri State's Leon Powell goes up for a shot against Harding's Hayden Johnson during the first half of their exhibition game Monday at the Show Me Center.

Adding even more pain for the Redhawks, all-Ohio Valley Conference senior forward Leon Powell played just six first-half minutes before missing the rest of the game with a knee injury. He spent the majority of the night with an ice pack on his left knee.

Powell, who missed the entire season two years ago with a torn ACL, injured the same knee. Nutt said Powell will be examined today.

"The first play of the game he came down on it crooked. He felt it right there," Nutt said. "We're disappointed but we're going to be optimistic. Hopefully it's just a sprain."

The Bisons, from Searcy, Ark., went 25-5 last year and won the championship in their final year as a member of the Gulf South Conference. They lost their top three scorers off that squad but appear to have reloaded based on Monday's performance.

"Harding is a good team. We knew that coming in," said Southeast sophomore point guard Lucas Nutt, the coach's son. "We knew it would be a good test. Like my dad said, we flunked it.

Southeast Missouri State's Nick Niemczyk brings the ball down the court during the first half of Monday's exhibition game against Harding at the Show Me Center. (Kristin Eberts)

"I felt our team was a little uptight. He [coach Nutt] preaches toughness and defense. We didn't bring it tonight."

Southeast sophomore forward Tyler Stone scored the game's first basket. The Redhawks then went nearly eight minutes without a point in falling behind 18-2.

While Southeast hit two of its first 14 field goals, Harding made eight of its first 14 shots, including 4 of 5 3-pointers, to build a 21-4 lead midway through the half.

"We just dug ourselves a hole. It seemed like there was a lid on the basket," Lucas Nutt said.

The Bisons led 26-7 before entering the break up 33-23. Harding shot 52 percent in the period on 13-of-25 shooting, while Southeast was at 24.1 percent on 7 of 29.

Southeast Missouri State's Michael Porter looks to pass while being defended by Harding's Lance Cannon and Zach Roddenberry, right, in the lane during the first half of their exhibition game Monday at the Show Me Center. Harding won 68-63. (Kristin Eberts)

Southeast pulled within 35-29 early in the second half on a 3-pointer by Nutt.

Harding answered with seven straight points to go back up 42-29 and later built a 60-46 advantage with under seven minutes left.

The Redhawks made a final charge. Nutt scored six straight points, including a conventional three-point play with 1 minute, 59 seconds left that cut the deficit to 62-60.

Harding countered with two free throws 12 seconds later. Southeast committed a turnover and missed a shot on its next two possessions.

The Bisons left the door open by making just two of its next six free throws, but Southeast couldn't take advantage as Harding built its lead back to 68-60 with under 20 seconds remaining.

"I thought we had it," Lucas Nutt said. "But late we didn't make the plays and we didn't play smart basketball."

Nutt had a strong game with 18 points and four assists against no turnovers in 33 minutes. Nutt scored 14 second-half points.

Stone, who practiced with the Redhawks last year but could not play in games after transferring from Missouri, scored 18 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked three shots. He had 12 points and nine rebounds in the final period.

"It still doesn't make up for the fact we lost," Stone said of his performance that included a late technical foul. "It was decent. I got a dumb tech.

"We just got to be tougher. We have to play smarter. It was definitely was an upset and a real wakeup call."

Said coach Nutt, "Tyler played well, and I thought Lucas had a good night."

Sophomore forward Hayden Johnson paced Harding with 22 points. The Bisons shot 44 percent (22 of 50), while Southeast finished at 34.5 percent (20 of 58).

The Redhawks shot 3 of 13 on 3-pointers (23.1 percent), compared to 6 of 17 for the Bisons (35.3 percent).

"We didn't shoot the ball well at all," said coach Nutt, who appeared most disappointed in the Redhawks' defense. "We had a lot of bad decisions, a lot of bad plays."

Twelve of Southeast's 13 players saw action, the exception being senior forward Waylon Jones.

The Redhawks open the regular season Friday at Missouri.

"We have to get a whole lot tougher," Lucas Nutt said.