Missouri Statement: Redhawks edge MSU on the road in thriller

SPRINGFIELD — Leave it up to Eric Reed to keep Missouri State at arm's length.

Southeast Missouri State's trusty sharpshooter nailed a 3-pointer with 11 seconds and to help the Redhawks hold off the Bears 99-94 in Tuesday's season opener, their first win at JHQ Arena in six years

Reed, who led the Ohio Valley Conference in 3-pointers made and percentage last season scored 21 points to lead five Redhawks in double figures.

Chris Harris (19 points, four assists), Nygal Russell (14 points), Nana Akenton (13 points) and Manny Patterson (11) points led the hot-shooting Redhawks.

SEMO shot 57 percent from the field (32-56), 79 percent on its regular trips to the free-throw line and 42 percent from 3-point range.

In a game with 11 ties and nine lead changes, SEMO finally pulled away with a 95-87 cushion with 1:12 left before the Bears stormed back and made it a one-possession ballgame.

The Redhawks, picked fourth in the OVC preseason poll after returning several key players under second-year coach Brad Korn, held Missouri State star Isiaih Mosley to a relatively modest total.

The two-time first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference talent and one of the most versatile mid-major players in the country was held to six first-half points. He finished with 16 points, five below his 2020-2021 average.

Missouri State, picked fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, was led by Gaige Prim's 28 points.

Korn is now 2-0 in season openers, the first time SEMO has won back-to-back season openers in its NCAA history.

"We did a really good job sharing the basketball and our guys made the right plays with the ball in their hands," Korn said. "I was proud of our rebounding and transition defense."

The Redhawks host Youngstown State on Saturday.