Southeast misfires on upset bid in closing minute

Southeast Missouri State University made Southern Illinois work hard before the Salukis could escape Cape Girardeau with a victory Saturday night.

The heavily favored Salukis led the entire second half but had to survive a pair of Southeast shots that would have tied the game in the closing seconds before holding on for a 72-68 victory.

A crowd of 4,636 at the Show Me Center -- including more than 700 SIU fans who made the short trip from Carbondale -- saw the Salukis improve to 7-2 and drop Southeast to 3-5. SIU has won 11 of the last 12 meetings in the series, including four straight.

Southeast was in position for a possible upset in the late going, trailing just 70-68 after a Derek Winans 3-pointer with 21 seconds remaining.

After SIU's Stetson Hairston missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free-throw situation with 19 seconds left, Southeast was in prime position to at least possibly force overtime.

But Winans had a driving shot blocked out of bounds with eight seconds left, then Dainmon Gonner was well off on a shot from about 12 feet with five seconds remaining.

SIU's Tony Young then made two free throws with three seconds left to seal the victory.

Gonner led Southeast with 22 points and fellow senior forward Reggie Golson added 17.

Senior guard Darren Brooks paced SIU with 19 points and sophomore guard Jamaal Tatum added 18.

Southeast turned the ball over only eight times against SIU's relentless pressure that was forcing an average of 19 turnovers a game.

"I told the players I was really disappointed we lost, we're all disappointed we lost, but I couldn't have asked for a better effort," Southeast coach Gary Garner said.

A fast-paced, well-played first half featured 11 ties and eight lead changes, with neither squad leading by more than three points until a late SIU flurry began to turn the tide in the Salukis' favor.

Gonner's basket with 2:03 remaining in the opening period pulled Southeast even at 27-27, but SIU closed the half with six straight points to lead 33-27 at the intermission.

Southeast had just six first-half turnovers, but two came on consecutive possessions and led to SIU baskets in the closing moments of the period.

With 1:46 left in the half, Josh Warren got a layup after a Southeast turnover to put SIU ahead 29-27.

At the 55-second mark, Randal Falker's jumper following another Southeast turnover made it 31-27.

Southeast then missed a shot and, with just five seconds left, Brooks was fouled while shooting. He hit both free throws for a 33-27 SIU advantage.

Southeast had a chance to pull closer by the intermission as Gonner was fouled while shooting at the buzzer. But he missed both free throws.

SIU began the second half with a 7-2 run and took its biggest lead of the night on a Tatum 3-pointer that made it 40-29.

But Southeast was not about to go down quietly. Trailing 45-35, Southeast responded with an 11-4 run capped by guard Mike Nelke's 3-pointer with 11:55 left that cut the deficit to 49-46.

After SIU built a pair of nine-point leads, Southeast made one final charge. Gonner's 3-pointer with 30 seconds left made it 68-65.

Tatum hit two free throws with 29 seconds left for a 70-65 SIU lead, but Winans' 3-pointer brought Southeast within 70-68 and set the stage for the frantic finish.