Williams, McFarland lead SIU-Edwardsville to win over SEMO

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Cameron Williams scored 27 points, David McFarland added 22 points and SIU-Edwardsville defeated Southeast Missouri State 94-88 in an Ohio Valley Conference opener on Thursday night.

Williams and McFarland combined to make seven of the Cougars' 10 3-pointers and eight of their team's 14 free throws. SIUE (5-8) made 14 of 16 from the line. Brandon Jackson had 17 points and eight rebounds.

Skyler Hogan scored 18 points to lead five players in double figures for the Redhawks (5-9). Isaiah Gable had 17 points and six rebounds.

The Cougars built a 20-point lead in the first half then led 45-30 at the break. SE Missouri St. chipped away at the lead and trailed by four with 10:45 remaining. SIUE went back up by 10 and stretched the lead to 11 on a 3-pointer by McFarland with 2:19 left. The Redhawks scored eight of the next 12 points and trailed 88-83 inside the final minute before McFarland closed out the win by making 4 of 4 from the line in the final 22 seconds.