Redhawks get a rare victory at Murray St.

MURRAY, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State's Redhawks feel like they simply can't lose these days -- and Saturday night they proved it against a team that has ruled Ohio Valley Conference basketball over the years.

The red-hot Redhawks captured only their second victory at Murray State since moving to Division I as they posted a stunning 61-58 triumph in front of 5,750 fans at the Regional Special Events Center.

"We're just taking it one game at a time, but we've got a lot of confidence right now," senior forward Reggie Golson said. "We're just giving ourselves a chance to win at the end."

Southeast's fifth straight win matches its longest streak since the 2000-01 season and pushes the Redhawks (11-10, 6-4) into a fourth-place OVC tie.

The Redhawks also beat preseason OVC favorite Murray (12-8, 7-3) for just the second time since Southeast's NCAA tournament season of 1999-00.

"This is a great win for us. I think it's our biggest win of the year," Southeast coach Gary Garner said. "Now we're tied for fourth and we're in control of our own destiny as far as getting a home game for the first round of the conference tournament."

Sophomore guard Terrick Willoughby continued his recent offensive surge by scoring a game-high 19 points. Willoughby, averaging 19 points over his last four contests, hit seven of 12 shots from the field, including four of five 3-pointers.

"Terrick is playing so well right now," Garner said.

Willoughby admitted to having some extra incentive Saturday. He originally signed with Murray out of high school, but after the Racers made a coaching change and the new staff didn't seem very interested in him, he was released from his letter of intent and wound up at Southeast.

"My emotions are unbelievable right now," said a teary-eyed Willoughby. "After I signed in high school and they pulled it back, I didn't know where I'd go. I kept praying that good things would happen. I'm really happy where I'm at."

Said Garner, "Terrick is such a fine young man, a joy to coach. This had to be really special for him."

Golson, the OVC's leading rebounder, had 15 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

Senior forward Dainmon Gonner, the OVC's leading scorer, added 12 points and 10 rebounds as Southeast held a 33-28 edge on the boards.

"We're not a good rebounding team, and they're a really good rebounding team," Garner said. "I told our players if we could do a good job rebounding, we'd have a good chance to win."

Senior guard Derek Winans hit five of eight shots and contributed 10 points; senior Mike Nelke and freshman Paul Paradoski combined for four assists and no turnovers while sharing point guard duties; and junior backup center Waylon Francis got a big basket as he hit his only shot.

"Everybody stepped up tonight," Gonner said. "It feels great to get this win."

The game was tight virtually the entire way, with six ties, seven leads changes and no advantage greater than seven points.

Southeast led 17-10 early and Murray built a 34-27 edge later in the first half before entering the intermission up 34-30.

After the lead changed hands several times over the first 10 minutes of the second half, Southeast surged back ahead as Willoughby's 3-pointer made it 51-49 with 9:10 remaining.

The Redhawks never relinquished the lead but could not expand it to more than five points, which was the margin after Golson's basket with 2:24 left made it 60-55.

Murray closed to 60-58 and had a chance to tie with under 30 seconds left but missed a shot. Gonner made one of two free throws with 13 seconds remaining to make it 61-58.

Southeast had two fouls to give and used them to make Murray run some clock. Then, with 6.5 seconds left, Golson fouled Shawn Witherspoon before he could attempt a 3-pointer, putting him at the line for a one-and-one. He missed the front end.

Earlier this season, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech hit 3-pointers in the late going of regulation to tie, and Southeast wound up losing both games in overtime.

"Everybody has a rule about that, and ours is under 10 seconds and we foul," said Garner of his strategy with a three-point lead.

Said Golson, "Coach said anybody could foul, just so they don't get off a three. I made sure I fouled him before he shot."

There was still suspense left as Golson missed the front end of a one-and-one with 4.5 seconds left. But Murray's Keith Jennifer was called for traveling just before he reached midcourt with 0.9 seconds left. Southeast then inbounded the ball and the buzzer sounded.

"Earlier in the year when we missed some late free throws we got beat," Golson said. "But lady luck is with us right now."

Southeast shot 48.1 percent (25 of 52) and had just 10 turnovers as it continued to take care of the ball well. Murray shot 47.3 percent (26 of 55) and had eight turnovers. Jennifer led the Racers with 15 points.

"We didn't play a bad game," Murray coach Mick Cronin said. "We played against a very good team, a team whose record doesn't reflect how good they are."