Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team pulls off upset in OVC tourney opener

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The third time against Eastern Kentucky proved to be the charm for the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team.

And it couldn't have come at a better time.

Southeast notched the program's first Ohio Valley Conference tournament win since the 2004-05 season, rolling past EKU 65-49 on Wednesday night at Municipal Auditorium.

"It's a good feeling," said second-year Southeast coach Dickey Nutt, whose squad has been down to eight players for the past several weeks. "I couldn't be more pleased with our team. I thought we executed at a high level.

"All the things we've been through ... these guys refused to lose."

The seventh-seeded Redhawks, making the program's first OVC tournament appearance since the 2006-07 campaign, lost to the sixth-seeded Colonels in both regular-season meetings, by 12 points at home and by 13 points on the road.

That mattered little Wednesday.

"It's tournament time," junior forward Leon Powell said. "We outworked a good team the whole 40 minutes."

The Redhawks (10-21), who had lost seven straight meetings against EKU, advance to an 8 p.m. quarterfinal today against third-seeded Austin Peay, which received a first-round bye.

Austin Peay (19-12) also beat Southeast in both regular-season meetings, by 18 points at home and by 23 points on the road less than a week ago.

"We haven't had much success with them," Nutt said.

The level of surprise at the Redhawks' victory over EKU (15-16) was tempered some since the Colonels finished the regular season with four straight losses.

But the margin of victory was shocking.

Southeast led 29-28 at halftime and fell behind 36-33 early in the second half. Then the Redhawks dominated the rest of the game, outscoring EKU 32-13. Southeast led 65-43 before EKU put up the final six points in garbage time.

"We expected a tight game," sophomore guard Marland Smith said.

Smith, Powell and quite a few others made sure that didn't happen.

Smith, who scored just nine points combined in the two earlier meetings with EKU, had a game-high 20 points, 13 in the first half.

"Confidence ... the main thing," Smith said about the difference this time. "Being patient and running the offense. I was knocking down shots."

Smith made 6 of 10 3-point attempts.

"Marland Smith probably was the difference, hitting six 3s," EKU coach Jeff Neubauer said.

Smith also led all rebounders with a career-high 11. He posted his first career double-double while playing all 40 minutes.

"What a night Marland Smith had," Nutt said.

Powell, the nation's leading field-goal shooter at 64 percent, also was pretty good.

Powell made 5 of 7 for 12 points. He also dished out a career-high seven assists, often making EKU pay for double-teaming him.

"Leon Powell really passed the ball. Obviously he's been getting double-teamed a lot lately," Neubauer said.

Powell attempted just one first-half shot and scored only three points before putting up nine second-half points. Powell added six rebounds and two blocks in the game.

"I thought Leon Powell was a difference maker," Nutt said.

Junior guard Marcus Brister continued his recent strong play with 11 points off the bench. He added five rebounds and three assists against just one turnover.

"Marcus gave us some very good minutes," Nutt said.

Redshirt freshman point guard Lucas Nutt had his usual steady performance with 10 points and six assists against no turnovers. Nutt hit both of his 3-point attempts, and Southeast finished 8 of 12 from beyond the arc.

Senior forward Cameron Butler pulled down nine rebounds while senior guard Anthony Allison added nine points.

The Redhawks led 39-38 with just less than 14 minutes left when things turned completely in their favor.

Southeast put up 13 straight points while holding EKU scoreless for nearly seven minutes to go ahead 52-38.

Things never got close after that.

"Defense," Powell said about the key to victory after EKU shot 28.1 percent.

Southeast shot 58.3 percent from the field.

"I was very proud of the way we played. We put together 40 minutes," coach Nutt said.