Late Free Throws Seal Redhawks 70-65 Road Win Over Little Rock

Saturday, February 21

Little Rock, Ark.

3:00 PM

Southeast Missouri State University

18-11,13-5OVC

Little Rock

11-18,8-10OVC

Team	1	2	F
Southeast Mo. St.	30	40	70
Little Rock	32	33	65

Final Statistics

2/21/2026 6:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Final Statistics

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Luke Almodovar scored 13 points to lead five players in double figures and Southeast Missouri (18-11, 13-5) made four free throws in the final 30 seconds to finish off a 70-65 win over Little Rock (11-18, 8-10) Saturday at the Jack Stephens Center.

SEMO capped a two-game sweep of LR and gave Head Coach Brad Korn a win in Little Rock during back-to-back season for the first time in his career.

The Redhawks picked up their eighth road win of the year in their final road test of the 2025-26 campaign. SEMO has won nine of its last 10 games, as well.

Down, 40-38, with 15:28 remaining, Almodovar used a five-point swing to jumpstart a 9-0 run for the Redhawks. He knocked down a 3-pointer and quickly made a layup. Troy Cole, Jr.'s jumper ended the surge giving SEMO a 47-40 advantage with 13:19 to go.

Marqueas Bell's layup later ran the Redhawks lead to double figures at 55-45 at the 8:30 mark.

SEMO led by 10 on three other occasions before LR made a push down the stretch.

The Trojans managed to cut the Redhawks lead to 61-58 on a make by Tuongthach Gatkek with 3:32 left to play.

Braxton Bayless then made two free throws to get LR within three again (66-63), this time with 30 seconds on the clock.

BJ Ward was fouled and went to the free throw line. Ward made his first attempt and missed his second shot.

After LR rebounded the ball, Blaize Sagna got a huge steal and was fouled.

Sagna made two free throws with 22 seconds before Brendan Terry added SEMO's final point from the charity stripe nine seconds later.

Neither team led by more than six points as SEMO and LR exchanged leads 10 times in the first half.

The Trojans scored the first six points of the game for the largest lead by either team 4:24 into the contest.

BJ Ward's 3-pointer later gave the Redhawks their first lead at 7-6 with 14 minutes remaining.

After Almodovar buried a 3-pointer to tie the game at 15-15, Bell scored a layup, was fouled and added a free throw to put SEMO ahead by three.

Bell gave the Redhawks a one-point edge with two free throws with 48 seconds left before Kachi Nzeh made a 3-pointer to regain a 32-30 lead for the Trojans at halftime.

Almodovar shot 5-of-10 from the field and led the Redhawks with three made threes.

Bell followed with 12 points and six rebounds and Braxton Stacker narrowly missed a double-double with 11 points and nine boards. Terry and Cole, Jr. contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.

SEMO outscored LR, 40-33, in the second half and outrebounded the Trojans, 38-31.

Kachi Nzeh had a game-high 16 points to lead the Trojans.

The Redhawks remain in a three-way tie for first in the Ohio Valley Conference with Tennessee State and Morehead State.

SEMO hosts TSU in a big OVC matchup on Feb. 26.