Box Score BOX SCORE

Henderson State's second-half defensive performance led the Reddies to a 78-61 win over Southeastern Oklahoma, Thursday at the Duke Wells Center in Arkadelphia, Ark.

With the win, the Reddies improve to 5-0 on the season and 1-0 in the Great American Conference. It is Henderson's best start since the 2003-04 season when the Reddies began the year 6-0.

Leading 38-31 at the half, the Reddies outscored the Savage Storm 27 to 9 in the first 15 minutes of the second-half as Southeastern managed to convert on just 4-of-18 field goal attempts.

With the Henderson's defense forcing SEOSU to take low percentage shots, the Reddie offense hit seven of their first nine shots of the half to pull away from the Savage Storm.

Denzel Lyles and Melvin Haynes were hot from outside the 3-point arc, while Andrew Ensley and Joe McCoy controlled the game in the paint.
Lyles led the Reddies with 19 points while knocking down four treys, while Haynes added 14 points, also having a quartet of trifectas.

Ensley, who scored nine of Henderson's first 10 points to begin the game, totaled 17 points while pulling down seven rebounds. Ensley hit on 7-of-11 field goals while also dishing out three assists.

McCoy came off the bench to score 12 points with the help of converting 5-of-6 free throws.  

The Reddies shot 47% (27-of-57) for the game, while Southeastern Oklahoma hit 39% (22-of-57) from the field.

Both teams had troubles at the foul line with Henderson State making just 14-of-27 free throws while the Savage Storm hit on 56% making 14-of-25 attempts.

Henderson will next be in action on Saturday as the Reddies play host to East Central with the opening tip set for 4 p.m. at the Duke Wells Center.