Southeast suffers another rout

It wasn't the way the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team envisioned opening a four-game homestand.

The Redhawks' slide continued Saturday night as they remained winless in Ohio Valley Conference play.

And it wasn't even close, which has been the norm rather than the exception against OVC competition.

Eastern Illinois did the honors, romping 83-63 at the Show Me Center.

Southeast (3-13, 0-5) has lost five straight and 10 of 11 as the Redhawks fell deeper into the OVC basement.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.comABOVE: Southeast's Jaycen Herring goes in for a layup against Eastern Illinois' Tyler Laser during the second half Saturday.BELOW: Senior Kenard Moore drives to the basket during the first half.

"This would have been crucial to our run," sophomore forward Jajuan Maxwell said. "We were really hoping we would get this one.

"We wanted to get these four [home games]. Now we just have to try and get the next three."

In addition to Saturday's blowout, three of Southeast's other OVC defeats have been by 27, 24 and 11 points.

The Redhawks were encouraged by their most recent performance, Monday's five-point loss at Jacksonville State.

But any momentum Southeast might have gained from its spirited second-half comeback from a 21-point deficit did not carry over.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.comSoutheast Missouri's Kenard Moore makes a drive for the basket in the first half against Eastern Illinois.

"We just started flat," Maxwell said. "We played hard. ... It was just our intensity wasn't there at all times."

Southeast acting coach Zac Roman, who really hasn't questioned the Redhawks' effort and commitment at any time this season, leaned in that direction Saturday.

"It was very disappointing," Roman said. "The way we started, finished. There really weren't a whole lot of good points there.

"Collectively we just don't play together as a team, and it shows. It looks like it doesn't mean much to them. They have to dig down. We owe it to the fans, the community, the university to give them 100 percent every night."

While Southeast continues to flounder, EIU (6-9, 3-2) is one win away from matching last year's total during a 7-22 season.

"I feel fortunate," EIU fourth-year coach Mike Miller said. "The way this league is, every night is a battle.

"It does [feel good to be 3-2 in the OVC], but we need to keep getting better. It's such a long conference season."

Southeast never led and was tied only for a short while for the third straight game.

The Redhawks fell behind 5-0, but matched the Panthers at 12-12 and 14-14.

EIU used a 6-0 run midway through the first half to go ahead 20-14, and Southeast never caught up.

Trailing 36-28 at halftime, the Redhawks threatened to make things interesting when they cut the deficit to four points twice early in the final period.

But the Panthers used a 7-0 burst to open a 49-38 advantage with under 13 minutes left.

Southeast got within 49-40, but an 11-2 spurt by the Panthers made it 60-42, and EIU coasted from there, its biggest lead being 24 points.

"I think we fell off defensively [in the second half]," junior forward LaMont Russell said. "Our intensity dropped a little bit."

Senior guard Kenard Moore led the Redhawks with 20 points, and senior forward Jaycen Herring added 14.

Junior center Calvin Williams, who entered averaging 17.5 points and eight rebounds to rank among the OVC's top five in both categories, was held to 10 points and four rebounds.

EIU placed five players in double figures, paced by junior center Ousmane Cisse and junior forward Edin Suljic with 16 points apiece.

The Panthers outrebounded Southeast 41-29 and shot 53.3 percent in the second half to break things open.

Southeast continues its homestand Monday night when Tennessee-Martin and All-American guard Lester Hudson come to town.

"We just have to bounce back and play as a team," Russell said.