CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's basketball team fell at Southeast Missouri (SEMO) 83-72 on Tuesday at the Show Me Center.
 
Sophomore Lew Stallworth led UTRGV (0-5) with a career-high 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 2-of-3 from behind the arc, plus 7-of-9 from the line, four rebounds and a career-high six assists. Junior Mike Hoffman scored 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-4 from behind the arc, with seven rebounds and two steals. Sophomore Antonio Green finished with 15 points.
 
Antonius Cleveland led SEMO (3-2) with 21 points and 10 rebounds and four assists. Trey Kellum scored 15 points with eight rebounds. Jamaal Calvin finished with 14 points.
 
Stallworth hit two baskets and a free throw as UTRGV jumped out to an 11-5 lead, but SEMO responded by scoring the next 13 points as part of a 17-3 run to take its largest lead at 22-14. UTRGV cut the defecit to four on a Stallworth layp at the 4:37 mark that made it 30-26, but a pair of Kellum jumpers helped SEMO build a 35-26 lead.
 
A Stallworth three brought UTRGV within 37-32 at halftime, and then junior Nick Dixon opened the second half half with a jumper to make it a one posession game.
 
SEMO led 44-38 on a Cleveland dunk with 13:45 remaining before a Stallworth three sparked a 13-3 run to put UTRGV up 51-47 midway through the second half.
 
Cleveland answered with a three-point play, however, as SEMO scored the next 11 points as part of a 22-4 run regain the lead for good.
 
UTRGV is back in action on Friday at 12:30 p.m. when it starts pool play at the Emerald Coast Classic, presented by Global Sports, against Grambling State at Northwest Florida State College Arena.

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