BOX SCORE
Final Score: Tennessee State 65 - Southeast Missouri 77
Records: TSU (5-8, 0-2 OVC) – SEMO (7-8, 1-1 OVC)
Venue: Show Me Center
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Attendance: 615
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. --- The Tennessee State men's basketball team was unable to overcome a big second half by Southeast Missouri in a 77-65 road defeat at the Show Me Center in Sunday's Ohio Valley Conference action.
After trailing by two points at the half, TSU (5-8, 0-2 OVC) was stymied by an 18-0 run by Southeast Missouri (7-8, 1-1 OVC) in the second half that put the game out of reach.
Delano Spencer scored a team-best 17 points with Ken'Darrius Hamilton (12 points) and Darreon Reddick (11 points) also reaching double figures for the Tigers.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- TSU LEADERS
- There were four ties and three lead changes in the first half.
- Ken'Darrius Hamilton scored in double figures for the seventh time this season and his second game in a row.
- Darreon Reddick reached double digit points for the second-consecutive games and the 34th time in his four-year career.
- For Delano Spencer, it was his 11th time scoring in double figures and 22nd time in his career.
- TSU outscored SEMO in the paint by a 24-18 margin.
- The Tigers forced the Redhawks into 14 turnovers.
- Jalen Duke scored a career-high nine points for the Tigers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- TSU held SEMO without a field goal until a Denzel Mahoney layup 5:38 into game. TSU built up a 9-2 lead in the early going.
- The Redhawks battled back and leveled the scoring at 18-18 with just under five minutes left before halftime.
- Jalen Duke provided a spark off the bench with four points and a rebound off the bench in seven first-half minutes.
- A pair of Mahoney free throws in the final minute of the half gave the Redhawks a 29-27 halftime edge.
- After Southeast Missouri opened the second half with a 7-0 run, Ken'Darrius Hamilton scored five points in a row to stop the run.
- An 18-0 run by the Redhawks halfway through the second half gave the home side an insurmountable lead.
GAME NOTES
- TSU is now 25-21 in the all-time series versus Southeast Missouri.
- The game completes TSU's season-long six game road swing.
QUOTES
HEAD COACH DANA FORD
"I've got to do a better job. Totally unacceptable today. I'm not proud of what was out on the floor. We were outcoached and I've just got to do a better job. I've got to put our guys in a better position to be more successful, and we'll get to work on that tomorrow."
- Thoughts on the game
"I thought he played with a lot of effort tonight. He was one of our few bright spots today. Hopefully I can do a better job and get some other guys to play well, as well."
- On the play of Jalen Duke
"I think they have to be coached better. This team has to be coached better. It starts with me, and that's what we're going to do starting tomorrow."
- On moving on from the game
UP NEXT
- TSU returns home to the Gentry Center to host defending Ohio Valley Conference Champion Jacksonville State on Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
- The game will air on the OVC Digital Network and on the radio on 102.1 The Ville.
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