NASHVILLE – The Tennessee State men's basketball team fell to SEMO, 85-63, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
FIRST HALF: Phillip Russell, SEMO's leading scorer in the first meeting, registered the opening basket of the game.
Carlos Marshall Jr. rattled off eight of TSU's first ten points, via back-to-back three pointers to secure the lead, 10-6. During the Tigers' hot start, Eric Reed Jr. tallied six straight points for the Redhawks. In the middle of the half, Tennessee State scored six unanswered points to extend the lead to 21-12. SEMO responded with a 12-4 scoring stretch to cut the deficit to one possession.
Dedric Boyd tried to rekindle the momentum with two consecutive three-pointers, however, the Redhawks dominated the final minutes of the half. SEMO recorded 12 straight points in the last two minutes. Tennessee State converted 5-of-11 from deep in the opening stanza, while SEMO cashed in 57.1% (16-for-28) from the field. ||
SEMO, 41-34
SECOND HALF: Southeast Missouri carried the momentum out of the break with four straight points from Manny Patterson to increase the lead to double-digits. SEMO went on multiple stretches throughout the half to keep the lead in double-figures.
Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. registered 12 points in the second half as he converted 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. The Redhawks cashed in 57.7% (15-for-26) from the field. ||
SEMO, 85-63
INSIDE THE BOX:
- Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. led the team with 14 points, his 13th game in double-figures this season.
- Carlos Marshall Jr. registered 10 points; the preseason All-OVC selection has scored in double-figures in six of the last seven games.
- SEMO out-scored TSU in the paint, 42-18, despite the teams' grabbing 27 rebounds apiece.
BEYOND THE STATS:
- Kassim Nicholson's grabbed at least six rebounds in every conference game thus far, averaging 8.3 boards per game.
- SEMO's Nana Akenten logged at least 16 points in two games at TSU this year.
- Tennessee State is 2-7 on the road this season.
UP NEXT: Tennessee State returns home to play Austin Peay for the first time this season, tip-off scheduled for 3:00pm at the Gentry Center.
