Southeast's early season troubles continue vs. TSU

~ The Redhawks fell to 0-8 with a 77-67 loss to Tennesee State

For the second time in as many Ohio Valley Conference games, the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team dug itself a big first-half hole to try to climb out of in late in the game.

The Redhawks got close to completing the task once again before falling to Tennessee State 77-67 on Saturday night at the Show Me Center.

The loss kept Southeast winless at 0-8 and 0-2 in two home games to start its conference schedule.

Tennessee State built a 7-1 lead to start the game and led by as many as 19 points in the first half before taking a 37-23 lead into halftime.

"We do it every game," said Southeast guard Lucas Nutt. "I think our confidence is just low right now, and we've got to learn how to win. We're talented, we're a lot better, but for some reason every game our defense no one's really into in like they should be."

Southeast dropped its conference opener to Austin Peay on Thurday night after reducing a 17-point deficit to two points.

"We've just got to come out playing harder," Lucas Nutt said. "In the second half, we go in and get a chewing from coach and we turned it around and you can tell we're better than the other team, but you can't dig yourself a hole like that."

The Redhawks were 6 for 18 from the floor in the first half while Tennessee State shot 46 percent (15 of 32).

"You've got to shoot the ball," Southeast coach Dickie Nutt said. "You've got to be able to make some shots, and shooting 30 percent in the first half just dooms you. It puts you in such a bad, bad situation night in and night out. We just have a hard time scoring with Nick [Niemczyk] and Cameron Butler and those guys out for health reasons."

The Redhawks used a 12-2 run early in the second to pull within five points, but could never complete the rally.

"It's just the defense," Lucas Nutt said. "We came out in the first half and they just hit shot after shot. They get whatever they want. We wait too long to turn on our switch, and it's too late and it's too big of a hole."

Lucas Nutt, who got his third start of the season, filled up the stat sheet for the Redhawks. He finished with 17 points on 5 of 5 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 performance from the free-throw line. He also added five rebounds and five assists.

"That's the thing he can do," Dickey Nutt said. "He can handle himself and he puts everybody in the right place. He calms my team down and he can step up and hit free throws. That's the things that's encouraging."

Southeast will travel to the Big 12's Iowa State on Monday for a nonconference meeting before traveling to Southern Illinois Carbondale on Wednesday.

"We're in the middle of a storm and, hey, it could get worse before it gets better. You go to Iowa State, you go to a powerhouse -- them and Southern Illinois -- so we know what kind of mountain we're up against."

Dickey Nutt said he hoped his players would be able focus on the future.

"I don't know if I've ever been around a team where their confidence is at an all-time," he said. "It's hard to explain to young people that you've got to put your blinders on and you've got to stop worrying about the record. It's almost just a ton on your shoulders, and therefore you come out and you play very tentative. You play nervous."

Lucas Nutt, whose father and coach said would be looked on to play more and contribute more to the offense in coming games, suggested a remedy for his team's confidence crisis.

"Win a game," Lucas Nutt said. "That'd help to get a game under our belt. We'd probably take off, but it doesn't get any easier."