ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Coming into Thursday, Henderson State had won 22 straight home games when it scored at least 80 points. On January 18, that streak continued as the Reddies defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State inside the Duke Wells Center, 83-81.

Henderson (6-8, 5-4 GAC) trailed for the game's first 37 minutes and 57 seconds before taking its first lead with 2:03 remaining in regulation. Despite the contest's final two minutes seeing two ties, the lead never changed hands, improving HSU to 5-1 at home for the 2023-24 campaign.

Malek Davis and Clarence King each recorded a team-high 17 points while King also added a season-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. As a team, the red-and-gray out-rebounded the Savage Storm 47-38, including 20-11 on the offensive glass.

Tim McDonald did a little bit of everything on the night, tallying nine points, five rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals. One of McDonald's two offensive rebounds set up Henderson State's eventual game winner with 13 seconds left. 

The Reddies kept Southeastern Oklahoma's prolific three-point shooting in check, with SE opening the game just 2-for-9 from deep. Unfortunately for Jimmy Elgas' group, the Storm went 7-for-14 from the floor as a whole during that time for an 18-12 lead halfway through the first half.

Henderson was able to close the gap to 31-30 with 4:30 remaining until intermission, but Southeastern hit two of its six first-half triples in the opening period's final 2:15 to build a 43-38 advantage at the break. An aggressive approach from the home team saw HSU attempt 16 free-throws in the opening 20 minutes.

Southeastern opened a seven-point lead quickly to open the second frame, holding a two-to-three possession edge for much of the frame. The Reddies cut the SE lead to two at the 16:25 mark, but the Savage Storm's advantage never fell below four again until the six-minute mark.

With the red-and-gray refusing to go away, Tomislav Miholjcic scored six of HSU's eight points over a four-minute stretch until the game stood at a tie with 2:39 remaining, 76-76. Miholjcic then took a missed Southeastern layup and delivered a three-quarter length pass to King for Henderson's first lead of the game, 78-76, capping off a 12-4 run.

The big man from Belgrade, Serbia, closed his night going 3-for-4 at the free-throw line as HSU stood with the ball in a tied ballgame with 45 seconds remaining. McDonald came through with his biggest rebound of the game off a missed three-pointer from Davis before Davis redeemed himself with the go-ahead pull-up jumper at the free-throw line for the 83-81 lead.

Henderson's suffocating defense on the other end kept Southeastern from getting a good look as the Reddies claimed the hard-fought victory. The Savage Storm went 0-for-7 from behind the arc in the second half to help give life to the comeback.

Henderson St. will return to the Duke Wells Center Saturday, Jan. 20 when East Central comes to town for a 3 p.m. tip.