CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) — Robert Covington had 23 points and 13 rebounds to lead Tennessee State to a 75-72 victory over Southeast Missouri on Saturday night.
Kellen Thornton scored 15 points and Kenny Moore 11 for the Tigers (15-10, 8-4 Ohio Valley), who won their fifth consecutive game and moved into a second-place tie with Tennessee Tech behind 10th-ranked Murray State.
Covington also had four of 10 steals by Tennessee State, which used a 15-0 run late in the game to sew it up.
Marland Smith and Corey Wilford scored 16 points each for the Redhawks (12-11, 7-4), who dropped their first home conference game of the season. Lucas Nutt added 14 points, and Leon Powell had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Smith put Southeast Missouri ahead 58-51 with 8:58 to play. Then the Tigers embarked on their game-turning run, holding the Redhawks scoreless for 5:38 and grabbing a 66-58 lead with 3:31 left.
