EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — Brendan Terry scored 30 points Thursday night to lead Southeast Missouri State to an 84-76 victory over Southern Indiana in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball game. The Redhawks (9-7, 3-1) never trailed after the opening minutes, building a 43-36 halftime lead at the Physical Activities Center. Terry, who added two assists and two blocks, keyed an efficient offense that shot 57.4% from the field. Luke Almodovar added 19 points for SEMO. The Screaming Eagles (3-11, 0-4) were led by Cardell Bailey’s 20 points and Ismail Habib’s 18 points and five assists. Southern Indiana struggled from three-point range, shooting 7 of 25, and committed 15 turnovers. The Redhawks capitalized with 14 fastbreak points and 13 points off turnovers to secure the win before an announced crowd of 1,069.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — Brendan Terry scored 30 points and Southeast Missouri State used a dominant first-half run to build a lead it would never relinquish, defeating Southern Indiana 84-76 in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at the Physical Activities Center. The Redhawks (9-7, 2-0 OVC) seized control with a 20-2 surge over a six-minute span in the opening half, turning a five-point deficit into a 13-point advantage from which the Screaming Eagles (3-11, 0-2) could not recover. The run was fueled by stifling defense and efficient offense, hallmarks of Southeast Missouri’s performance. Terry, a 6-foot-7 forward from Santa Monica, California, was the catalyst, finishing 13 of 19 from the field while adding two assists and two blocks in 31 minutes. His interior scoring was a primary reason the Redhawks outscored Southern Indiana 40-24 in the paint. Luke Almodovar added 19 points for Southeast Missouri, and BJ Ward chipped in 13 points and five assists. The Redhawks shot 57.4% from the field overall and 50% from 3-point range, posting an offensive rating of 117.8 on 71 possessions. Southern Indiana was led by Cardell Bailey’s 20 points and Ismail Habib’s 18 points and five assists. Amaree Brown contributed 15 points off the bench. The Screaming Eagles struggled from deep, making just 7 of 25 attempts, and committed 15 turnovers which led to 13 Southeast Missouri points. The most critical sequence of the game began with Southern Indiana leading 12-10 near the 16-minute mark of the first half. Southeast Missouri’s defense locked down, forcing a series of turnovers and contested misses. Offensively, the Redhawks attacked the rim relentlessly. Terry ignited the 20-2 burst with a layup, and the run featured a steal and 3-pointer from Terry, an alley-oop from Terry to Almodovar, and capped with a 3-pointer from Almodovar that made it 30-14 with 10:04 remaining. Southern Indiana went without a field goal for over five minutes during the stretch. Southern Indiana trimmed the deficit to seven points by halftime, 43-36, and stayed within striking distance for much of the second half. A 3-pointer by Bailey brought the Screaming Eagles to within 66-61 with just over four minutes to play, but Terry answered with a tough jump shot on the next possession. Southern Indiana could get no closer than five points the rest of the way as Southeast Missouri made enough free throws down the stretch to secure the road victory. Despite being out-rebounded on the offensive glass and shooting just 53.6% from the free-throw line, the Redhawks’ superior shooting efficiency and ability to generate points off turnovers proved decisive. They also held a significant advantage in fast-break points, 14-3. The announced attendance was 1,069. Southeast Missouri State, which has won three straight, next plays at Morehead State on Saturday. Southern Indiana, mired in a five-game losing streak, will host Tennessee-Martin on Saturday.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — A surging Southeast Missouri State squad will look to extend its winning streak against a Southern Indiana team desperate to halt a skid when the Ohio Valley Conference foes meet Thursday night. The Redhawks (8-7, 2-0 OVC) have won three straight, including decisive conference wins over Eastern Illinois (68-59) and Western Illinois (73-50). They will visit the Screaming Eagles (3-10, 0-2) at the Physical Activities Center. Southeast Missouri is powered by guard BJ Ward, who is coming off a career-high 23-point performance in the win over Western Illinois. Over the last five games, Ward is averaging 14.2 points and 3.6 assists, providing consistent backcourt production. In contrast, Southern Indiana has lost five consecutive games, with four of those defeats by single digits, including an 83-80 overtime loss at Lindenwood on Saturday. The Screaming Eagles have struggled offensively, failing to reach 65 points in four of those five losses. Forward Tolu Samuels has been a bright spot for Southern Indiana, averaging 10.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. He nearly posted a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds in the loss to Lindenwood. The Redhawks have found success with balanced scoring; in their latest win, Marqueas Bell added 11 points and Luke Almodovar contributed 13 off the bench. Southern Indiana will need more from its supporting cast behind Samuels, as guards Sheridan Sharp and Cardell Bailey combined for 36 points in the last outing. Historically, the teams have split their last four meetings. This contest opens a key two-game homestand for Southern Indiana, while Southeast Missouri aims to maintain its early conference momentum before a quick turnaround at Morehead State on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. EST Thursday.