Southeast falls to 0-2 in OVC

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Amadi McKenzie had been averaging five points per contest -- but he had the game of his young college basketball career Saturday night to break Southeast Missouri State University's heart.

McKenzie, a Tennessee Tech freshman forward, scored 18 points and had a go-ahead three-point play with 14 second remaining as the Eagles squeezed out a 63-61 home-court victory.

"My teammates were able to find me all night, and it's my best game so far," McKenzie said.

Southeast fell to 5-8 overall and 0-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference as it was swept on its road trip to begin OVC play. Tech is 7-6 and 2-0.

"We played really hard, and it's a very disappointing loss," Southeast coach Gary Garner said. "I sure can't fault our effort. We gave it everything we had.

"We pretty much did what we wanted to do, and if we make our free throws, we win."

Southeast hit just 21 of 34 foul shots (61.8 percent) as it attempted 16 more than the Eagles, who were 10 of 18.

"That's the game right there," Garner said.

Southeast also was able to limit senior forward Willie Jenkins, the OVC's leading scorer at 20 points per game, to only three points as sophomore guard Terrick Willoughby and junior guard Ryan Belcher took turns hounding Jenkins.

But junior forward Derek Stribling had 20 points -- he was averaging 11 points per game -- and McKenzie came up big.

Southeast grabbed a 61-59 lead with 31 seconds left on Belcher's layup after he took a great pass from senior forward Reggie Golson.

Tech then missed badly on a 3-point attempt, but McKenzie was there for the rebound and he deposited the layup while being fouled. The free throw put Tech ahead 62-61.

"That's just bad luck. A guy shoots an airball on a 3-pointer, and it goes off the board right to the guy," Garner said.

Things were far from over. Southeast senior forward Dainmon Gonner barely missed from in close and Golson also had an attempt on the rebound.

Stribling hit one of two free throws with 6 seconds left as Southeast still had a chance, but Willoughby's leaning 10-footer at the buzzer rolled around the rim before falling off.

"We got what we wanted at the end," Garner said. "Dainmon got a good shot, and Terrick's was rushed but it wasn't a bad shot."

Golson scored a game-high 22 points and had eight rebounds. Gonner and senior guard Derek Winans both added 12 points.

"We were right there and we just came up a little bit short," Golson said.

Southeast, which trailed the whole way during Thursday's 60-50 loss at Austin Peay, was ahead 36-28 at halftime and 43-28 barely one minute into the second half.

But Southeast's already depleted roster, which grew even thinner after senior guard Brett Hale did not dress out after injuring his shooting wrist during Friday night's practice, could not hold off Tech's deep roster.

Southeast used only eight players and seven saw at least 17 minutes of action.

Tech used a 23-5 run to lead 51-48, then things went back and forth with several ties and lead changes as neither squad led by more than three points.

Southeast led 59-57 on two Winans free throws with 2:09 left. McKenzie scored inside for a 59-59 tie at the 1:55 mark, which led to the wild finish.

"Who would have thought we'd hold Jenkins to three points and still lose?" Garner said.