INDIANS PRODUCE PLENTY OF THRILLS IN FINAL GAME

Yes, it would have been better if that final shot had been good. But disappointed? No way.

The Southeast Missouri State University Indians made us proud to be fans Thursday afternoon. (Was anybody in town working?)

All the work was being done in Salt Lake City. The Indians held up in their first Division I showing in the NCAA Tournament. They made the game a nail-biter until the last seconds of the 64-61 loss to Louisiana State University, No. 4 seed in the West Division and one of the biggest of all the 64 teams who made the cut.

What a wonderful year for the Indians. And what a grand way to bring it to a close.

The Indians jumped on the scoreboard with two points, but LSU swiftly created a big gap. You could tell the CBS big shots were starting to question the wisdom of their decision to air the game.

But finally Gary Garner's team started to make things happen. With every additional point -- and eventually the lead -- you could see the Indians build confidence. They started to play sharper. Their movements became more fluid.

They had every reason to hold their heads high.

There were no more cutaways by the CBS bigwigs.

How quickly the second half of the game went. The lead seesawed from SEMO to LSU and back. And back again.

In the final seconds, LSU jolted to a three-point advantage. But the Indians kept playing.

Proud? Doggone right we're proud. Millions of basketball fans saw a first-rate game. Dozens of outstanding high school players saw the game too. For SEMO, making LSU fight every step of the way will go a long way toward giving the Indians the national stature they so richly deserve.