Damarion Walkup scores 23 as Redhawks rout Pioneers in home opener

SEMO guard Damarion Walkup shoots a three-pointer against Crowley’s Ridge on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the Show Me Center.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

Southeast Missouri State men’s basketball coach Brad Korn said leading up to Wednesday’s home opener that starting the season at Bradley and Vanderbilt exposed the Redhawks’ early weakness.

The Redhawks took out a first week of frustration with a landslide victory over NAIA member Crowley’s Ridge 93-38 on Nov. 13, at the Show Me Center.

“I see an improvement in communication on the floor, off the court,” SEMO guard Damarion Walkup said. “We know that even down the road, we’re going to be a better team.”

Walkup didn’t start the game but finished it with a game-high 23 points off the bench for the Redhawks.

“Hats off to my teammates for being aggressive and getting me the ball when I’m open,” Walkup said.

Walkup shot 8-of-14 from the field and 4-for-10 from the three-point line. Overall, the Redhawks shot 11-of-35 from the arc.

“We were just taking what the defense would give us,” Walkup said. “We shoot a lot threes in practice so it helps.”

A 4-3 early SEMO lead through the first two minutes of the game was as close as it got. The Redhawks quickly turned it into a rout with a 22-2 run, beginning with a three-point basket by Trey Cole Jr., to extend their lead to 26-5 with 9:51 remaining in the first half.

The run was highlighted by a six-point burst by B.J. Ward, who finished the game with 11 points for his third consecutive double-digit performance of the season, and 10 rebounds for a double-double.

After Pioneers’ forward Braxton Cousins broke up the run with a layup, the Redhawks regrouped and started a new run. Teddy Washington Jr. made a jumper with 8:09 remaining in the first half to start a 16-2 run to go up 42-9 with 2:31 remaining. He finished the game with an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double.

TJ Biel capped the run with a three-pointer and scored the Redhawks remaining five points in the first half, including a buzzer-beater to enter halftime with 47-17 lead. He scored 10 points off the bench for the Redhawks in the first half.

The Redhawks picked up where they left off with a 20-6 run, started by a pair of three-pointers from Ward and Washington Jr., to start the second half with a 67-24 lead. SEMO finished the game with a 20-8 run through the final nine minutes. Walkup scored eight points during the run, including a three-pointer in the final minutes.

SEMO returns to the Show Me Center on Sunday, Nov. 17 to take on Chattanooga.