By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Tennessee Tech's season came to an end Saturday afternoon with an 89-73 loss at Southeast Missouri inside the Show Me Center, a result that also kept the Golden Eagles out of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament finishing tied for 8th place but with Eastern Illinois holding the tiebreaker to earn the final spot. 

Tech led for much of the opening half and carried a 36-34 advantage into the break after shooting 50 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes. The Golden Eagles built an 11-point lead midway through the half and got early production from multiple spots as they controlled the tempo.

Southeast Missouri turned the game after halftime, opening the second period with a 55-point outburst while shooting nearly 68 percent from the field. The Redhawks used transition offense and efficiency inside to pull away, stretching the margin to double digits midway through the half and never allowing Tech to fully recover.

Dani Pounds led Tennessee Tech with 24 points on 7-of-9 shooting and went 10-for-11 at the free-throw line. Ty Owens added 14 points, while JaJuan Nicholls chipped in 14 points and four rebounds in 21 minutes.

The Golden Eagles finished the game shooting 44 percent from the field and 25 percent from three-point range, while going 25-of-30 at the foul line. SEMO held advantages in points in the paint (46-30) and fast-break points (19-5), key factors in the second-half surge.

Tennessee Tech closes the season at 13-18 overall and 8-12 in OVC play, falling just short of qualifying for the conference tournament.

Tech finishes the season 13-18 overall and 8-12 in OVC Play, ending the year tied for 8th in the conference but losing the tiebreaker with Eastern Illinois for the final spot in the tournament.

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