Box Score

MARTIN, Tenn. – With 4.6 seconds remaining, and clinging to a two-point lead, Antonnio Benton cleaned up a missed free-throw attempt by JaMichael Hawkins with a rebound and basket to provide the final margin of victory in Southeastern Louisiana's 80-76 road win Saturday over the University of Tennessee at Martin.

"They had a little bit of a working margin, but we came up with big plays," head coach Jim Yarbrough said. "Time after time, we kept attacking them. I thought our offense looked really good. We're still not good enough defensively, but good enough in the second half. It was a great win."

Southeastern (4-6) worked around foul trouble the entire game as officials whistled for 46 personals in the contest, 27 against the Lions. Freshman Forrest Johnson fouled out while Onochie Ochie, Jeffery Ricard and Devonte Upson finished the game with four fouls.

Ochie led the Lions with 18 points. Benton turned in a double-double, with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, and freshman guard Joshua Filmore added 12 points.

UT Martin's Myles Taylor led all players with 34 points and tied Benton with 11 rebounds. Justin Childs and Terence Smith each contributed 12 points for the Skyhawks (5-10).

Southeastern led for the bulk of the first half, stretching its lead to nine with 7:33 remaining before the half on 64-percent (16-of-25) shooting, but the Skyhawks were able to scratch back into the game on the strength of free-throw shooting.

Taylor hit a jumper with four seconds remaining in the first half, turning it into a three-point play following a foul, to give UT Martin a 45-44 lead heading into halftime.

In the second half the Skyhawks never led by more than five, but kept Southeastern at bay for most of the half.

The Lions tied the game, 74-74, with 2:24 remaining after Upson converted a free-throw attempt while subbing for an injured Ricard at the line. Ricard was injured following a steal under Southeastern's basket. Upson was back at the line 40 seconds later, following another steal, to give the Lions the lead for good.

Southeastern, hosting its final non-conference game of the regular season, returns to the University Center, Dec. 30, against Spring Hill. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. and tickets can be purchased in advance at www.LionSports.net or by calling the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-LION.


SOUTHEASTERN LA. (4-6)
Ochie, Onochie 8-10 1-3 18; Benton, Antonnio 5-11 2-3 12; Filmore, Joshua 3-6 4-4 12; Upson, Devonte 3-7 3-4 9; Chiera, Julian 3-6 3-3 9; Evans, Dre 3-5 1-1 7; Hawkins, JaMichael 2-5 3-5 7; Ricard, Jeffery 2-6 2-2 6; Johnson, Forrest 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-56 19-25 80.

UT MARTIN (5-10)
Taylor, Myles 11-22 12-14 34; Childs, Justin 5-6 1-3 12; Smith, Terence 1-7 10-12 12; Liabo, Mike 2-6 2-2 7; Newell, Marshun 2-6 1-2 5; Oldham, Dee 1-6 1-2 4; Martinez, Javier 1-1 0-0 2; Mopo, Pierre 0-0 0-0 0; Richardson, DeMarc 0-1 0-0 0; Jones, Bobby 0-4 0-1 0; Dowdell, Tobias 0-0 0-1 0. Totals 23-59 27-37 76.

Southeastern La........   44   36  -   80
UT Martin.....................   45   31  -   76

3-point goals--Southeastern La. 3-16 (Filmore, Joshua 2-4; Ochie, Onochie 1-1; Chiera, Julian 0-3; Evans, Dre 0-1; Hawkins, JaMichael 0-2; Ricard, Jeffery 0-3; Benton, Antonnio 0-2), UT Martin 3-13 (Childs, Justin 1-1; Oldham, Dee 1-2; Liabo, Mike 1-4; Jones, Bobby 0-3; Smith, Terence 0-2; Taylor, Myles 0-1). Fouled out--Southeastern La.-Johnson, Forrest, UT Martin-None. Rebounds--Southeastern La. 41 (Benton, Antonnio 11), UT Martin 32 (Taylor, Myles 11). Assists--Southeastern La. 18 (Filmore, Joshua 6), UT Martin 13 (Smith, Terence 7). Total fouls--Southeastern La. 27, UT Martin 19. Technical fouls--Southeastern La.-Ricard, Jeffery, UT Martin-None. A-817