Tech dominates Southeast men

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team had one of its best offensive performances of the season Saturday night.

There was just one problem -- host Tennessee Tech was much hotter.

The Golden Eagles sliced through Southeast's defense at will, shooting a sizzling 56.9 percent during a 103-76 romp.

Southeast, which had just seven scholarship players available, fell to 3-11 overall and 0-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Redhawks have lost eight of their last nine.

"We just have to have more intensity every minute of the game," Southeast junior center Calvin Williams said.

Tech (7-5, 1-1) broke a three-game losing streak, thanks largely to hitting 41 of 72 field-goal attempts, including 14 of 29 from 3-point range (48.3 percent). The Eagles piled up a whopping 34 assists.

"I think we did a lot of good things offensively. I really liked the way we shared the ball," Tech coach Mike Sutton said. "Southeast Missouri State is a little short-handed right now with some injuries, but they've got some talented players."

The Eagles scored the most points against Southeast this season, surpassing the 102 New Mexico put up in the season opener.

"They're a good team. They executed," Williams said.

Tech won for the 11th time in the past 12 meetings against Southeast. The Redhawks have not won at Tech since the 1999-2000 season.

Southeast acting coach Zac Roman was so upset by the Redhawks' performance that he remained in the locker room for at least 15 minutes before coming out for his postgame radio show.

Later, Roman said he had no comment about the game.

"I really don't want to talk about it right now," he said. "Maybe later."

Offensively, the Redhawks scored their second-most points of the season against a Division I opponent, behind an 81-77 victory over Longwood on Nov. 28.

Southeast's shooting percentage of 50.9 was its second-best this season against a Division I squad, trailing the 52.5 percent during the Redhawks' most recent win, Dec. 21 against Western Illinois.

The Redhawks did struggle from the free-throw line for one of the few times this season, making just 18 of 32 (56.3 percent).

They entered the game at 73.9 percent.

But the missed foul shots had no bearing on a contest the Eagles dominated from start to finish.

Tech led 6-0 just 1 minute, 13 seconds into the game, and things got progressively worse.

It was 17-4 less than five minutes in. Southeast pulled to within 26-22, but trailed 48-35 at the break.

Southeast got no closer than 11 points in the second half, and that came early in the period before the Eagles put the victory on ice.

"We just have to have more intensity every second out there," Williams said.

Williams had his second double-double and the sixth of his career with 24 points and 11 rebounds.

Senior forward Jaycen Herring scored 18 points, sophomore forward Jajuan Maxwell had 12 and junior forward LaMont Russell added 11.

Tech got 18 points from both junior guards Will Barnes and Frank Davis, who combined to hit 10 of 16 3-pointers.

Senior center Daniel Northern added 17 points for the Eagles.

With junior guards Jimmy Drew and Johnny Hill both out with foot injuries, Southeast again will have only seven scholarship players available when it concludes a two-game road trip Monday night at Jacksonville State (7-4, 1-1).