Sports Zone Jan. 20, 2024: SEMO all-time leading scorer Carl Ritter recognized, Redhawks basketball completes doubleheader sweep of SIUE

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – The Southeast Missouri State men’s and women’s basketball teams hosted SIU-Edwardsville at the Show Me Center on Saturday afternoon.

Plenty of kiddos in the house for kids day, and the Redhawk ladies were off and flying in the first half. 

Midway through the second quarter, Redhawks up eight, Daejah Richmond with the little stop and pop, and a kiss off the glass and in for two, and the lead is 10. 

About a minute later, same score, the Redhawks get out in transition, and Megan Barton fought through the contact and got the shot to go to extend the Redhawks’ lead to 12. 

Now with about two minutes left in the half, some nifty dribbling from Richmond, a little crossover and a sweet dish to Amiyah Buchanan, and the Redhawks would push their lead back to double figures. 

And that lead would only grow, as SEMO takes care of SIUE, 86-72. Those 86 points are the Redhawks most against a Division I opponent this year, and they have now won three of their last four games. 

And on the men’s side, the Redhawks were trying to avoid their fifth loss in six games and improve to 7-3 at home.  

SEMO’s all-time leading scorer Carl Ritter was recognized during a media timeout, accompanied by his family.

It was a bit of a slower start offensively in this one, but the Redhawks get their first points from the big fella Josh Earley, bumping and bruising his way for two. 

A couple minutes later, they got it in to Earley, but he found a cutting Adam Larson and he finished in traffic.

And on the Redhawks next possession, everybody getting involved, this time it was Rob Martin with the pull-up jumper to give the Redhawks their first lead. 

And in a tight, low-scoring affair, the Redhawks would prevail, 52-47. 

Earley led the way with 16 points and 8 rebounds.