Southeast Missouri defeats Hannibal-LaGrange 82-72

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) — Nick Niemczyk scored 22 points to lead four Southwest Missouri players in double figures in an 82-72 victory against Hannibal-LaGrange on Wednesday night.

Lucas Nutt had 15 points, Leon Powell 13 and Telvin Wilkerson 10 for the Redhawks (2-3). Powell had eight rebounds.

Arii Meuel scored 29 points and was 7 for 7 from 3-point range for Hannibal-LaGrange, and NAIA school that classified the game as an exhibition. Chris Smith added 13 points for the Trojans, whose record remained 2-5.

Meuel made four of his 3-pointers in the first half to help the Trojans to a 36-35 halftime advantage.

But a Nutt layup gave Southwest Missouri a 45-40 lead with 16:44 remaining and began a 21-6 run over the next 7:07. Nutt bookended the surge with another layup that gave the Redhawks an 18-point cushion, and Hannibal-LaGrange got no closer than eight the rest of the way.