DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University went on a 10-0 run to bridge the first and second halves to tie the game early in the second period, but Southeast Missouri State was able to reclaim the lead and an 86-77 decision at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Saturday, Dec. 2.
 
For the fifth time this year, NCCU (4-6) shot over 50 percent from the floor (50.9 percent), but SEMO (4-4) shot 56.4 percent, including 64.3 percent in the second half, helped by shooting 85.7 percent (6-7) from the arc after the break.
 
SEMO jumped out on a 5-0 run to open the game, and the Redhawks wouldn't let NCCU get ahead of them for the entire contest.  The Redhawks kept trying to pull away from the Eagles in the first 20 minutes, but NCCU was able to stay close.
 
SEMO went out by as many as 10 with 1:43 left in the first half, but NCCU rattled off seven unanswered points from there, capped by a tip-in by Brandon Goldsmith (Raleigh, N.C.) right before time expired with the Eagles trailing 38-35.
 
Raasean Davis (Chicago, Ill.) manufactured a three-point play to open the second half to tie the contest at 38, but SEMO responded with a 10-0 run to create separation that it would keep for the rest of the game.
 
Reggie Gardner, Jr. (Bowie, Md.) had a career day with a game-high 26 points, and Pablo Rivas (Colón, Panama) notched his third double-double of the year with 19 points and 12 boards.  Davis finished with 11 points, and Jordan Perkins (Greensboro, N.C.) dished out a game-high and career-high 10 assists.
 
Justin Carpenter (Mt. Carmel, Ill.) led five double-digit scorers for SEMO with 20 points and six rebounds on a perfect 8-for-8 from the field, including a three pointer and a 3-for-3 mark from the free throw line.  He was followed by Denzel Mahoney (Oviedo, Fla.) with 19 points and five caroms.  Both Daniel Simmons (Biggersville, Miss.) and Milos Vranes (Belgrade, Serbia) had 10 points and four boards, and Ledarrius Brewer (Meridian, Miss.) had 12 points with four rebounds.
 
NCCU takes a week off before heading to the capital area to face George Mason on Saturday, Dec. 9 to start a two-game road trip.