KINGSPORT, Tenn.—Southeastern struggled with shooting woes along with turnovers and foul trouble in a 74-58 loss against Shawnee State in its first game of the NAIA Showcase at the MeadowView Marriott.
The Fire (3-4) finished the game 39% from the field but just 5-of-26 (19.2%) from 3-point range and 11-of-22 at the free throw line.
Southeastern took a brief lead with a 7-0 run to go up 15-14 with 10:02 left in the first on a layup by Joshua Blaquez who led SEU with 19 points in the contest, but Shawnee State (3-5) answered with an 8-0 run to lead 22-15 with 7:14 left in the first.
A three-pointer by Jalan Mull with 1:03 left in the half got the Fire within a basket at 30-27, but a three on the next possession by the Bears and a free throw on their next possession after an SEU turnover gave them a 34-27 lead at halftime.
An 11-3 run by Shawnee State over the first five minutes of the second half gave the Bears a 45-30 cushion. Jaiden Guice scored five of his 10 points in the game during that span.
Sean Shore connected on a layup following a steal by Aaron Jones with 10:03 left to get the Fire within 10 at 52-42. The Fire got it down to seven with 2:29 left on a three-pointer by Jones and a split pair of free throws by Shore but the Bears scored the next five points to create some separation.
Shore was the top rebounder for the Fire with eight.
Southeastern will take on Freed-Hardeman on Sunday at 12:45 for its final game of The Show.
