CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.  _  The University of Central Arkansas Bears got the quick start to the game Thursday night that head coach Russ Pennell had been looking for. Unfortunately, the opening minutes of the second half went the opposite way as the Southeast Missouri Redhawks rallied to down the Bears 87-63 at the Show Me Center.

    The Redhawks (4-3) outscored the Bears 36-1 to open the second half and put the game away. UCA's first field goal of the second half did not come until the 10:08 mark when freshman Darraja Parnell hit a conventional three-point play. The Bears missed 12 consecutive shots, with their lone point coming at the free throw line from center Albert Christensson.

    That came after the Bears (1-6) shot 59.3 percent from the field and made four three-pointers in the first half to grab a 37-30 lead at halftime. The Redhawks shot just 37.9 percent overall and made just 4 of 16 from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes.

    But that turned quickly in the second half as SEMO shot 59.5 percent from the field, and more importantly, hit 10 of 18 (55.6) from three-point range to run away from the Bears, who were coming off a solid double-overtime loss to Little Rock on Tuesday night at the Farris Center.

    For UCA, junior guard Jordan Howard led the way with 15 points, hitting a pair of three-pointers. It was the 47th consecutive game for Howard to connect from beyond the arc. Senior Derreck Brooks, junior Mathieu Kamba and freshman Darraja Parnell all added 11 points, with Brooks recording a team-high 7 rebounds and Parnell a team-high 3 steals.

    Trey Kellum led four players in double figures for SEMO with 21 points, going 10 of 14 from the field. Nino Johnson and Jaylen Benton added 13 each and Denzel Mahoney chipped in 12. Jamaal Calvin had 9 of the Redhawks' 28 assists.   

    UCA continues its road trip in Indianapolis, Ind., on Saturday with a matchup with the No. 18 Butler Bulldogs at 3 p.m. at Hinkle Fieldhouse.