Mitchell, S.D. – The Southeastern University men's basketball team found itself battling from behind most of the day, as it dropped its first game of the Mike Miller Classic 78-74 to the Dakota State University Trojans. The loss snapped a six game win streak the Fire were riding.
SEU scored the first two baskets of the contest at the hands of junior guard
CJ Reese. However, this proved to be the only Fire lead of the game, as the Trojans went up 6-4 with 16:48 to go in the first half and never relinquished the lead.
Harrison Hebert found success from the perimeter early, knocking down his first three shot attempts from three point range. Senior forward
Josue Celestin was a force on the boards in the first half with seven rebounds, finishing the contest with ten total.
However, despite those efforts the Trojans still maintained control throughout the first half, stringing together an 11-0 run early on that guided DSU to a 39-29 halftime lead.
The Fire played determined in the second half, shooting 56.3 percent as well holding the advantage in rebounds (17-11). Junior forward Wes Johnson scored 15 of his 17 points in the half.
SEU cut the deficit versus DSU to within one possession five times in the half.
However, Southeastern was unable to stifle the core group of Trojans who led the way for Dakota State throughout the contest. Senior forward Kyle Kilgore topped the team in scoring with 23 points. No player outside of the DSU starting five scored a point.
Reese missed a layup which would have tied the game with 17 seconds to go.
However, the College Park, Ga. native continued to shine in the early goings of his SEU career, leading all scorers with 25 points. This was his fourth game of 20 points or more this season.
The Fire will look to bounce back tomorrow as they take on No. 12 Dakota Wesleyan University at 9:30 p.m. eastern.
