A FINE LINE: 3-POINT ARC INVOLVED IN SE's CLOSE LOSSES

Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians are ever so close to being 4-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play.

But because of 3-point baskets in the waning seconds by two opponents, the Indians have to settle for a 2-2 league record as they prepare for a big two-game homestand.

Eastern Kentucky was the latest OVC team to drill a late 3-pointer that contributed greatly to a Southeast overtime loss.

It happened Monday night in Richmond, Ky., when EKU reserve guard Chris Fitzgerald's trey with 5.5 seconds left in regulation forced a 63-63 tie. The Colonels went on to post an 82-79 double-overtime victory.

Back on Dec. 4 at the Show Me Center, Tennessee State's Seth Huber's 3-pointer with less than a second to play in overtime gave the Tigers a 79-77 win.

"We're so close to being 4-0," said Southeast coach Gary Garner Tuesday morning after the Indians had returned home from the long road trip. "There just isn't a whole lot of difference between a lot of teams (in the OVC). So many games are decided by one or two plays. And that's the way a lot of our games are going to be the entire season."

The shorthanded Indians gave a gritty performance at EKU but they lost for the seventh straight time at McBrayer Arena since Southeast joined the OVC.

Four Indians played at least 40 of a possible 50 minutes, with Cory Johnson and Calvert White both playing 47 minutes.

Demetrius Watson played 43 minutes despite injuring a hip during Saturday's 64-61 win at Morehead State. Kahn Cotton played 40 minutes.

"Our guys really battled," said Garner. "In a game like that, you can look at so many plays that might have made the difference. It's hard to single one out."

The Indians, who lead the OVC in free-throw shooting at 69 percent, were a sizzling 32 of 38 (84 percent) against EKU.

But Southeast shot just 38 percent from the field (20 of 53), had 23 turnovers and was outrebounded badly for the second straight game, this time 48 to 35.

"Our rebounding really concerns me," Garner said. "We're giving up a lot of offensive rebounds and you just can't give a team that many more opportunities to score.

"Our defense has been good enough. It's kept us in a lot of games. But once the ball goes up, we're having a hard time getting it back."

Johnson, the Indians' 3-point marksman who had hit only four of his last 20 3-point attempts, had a huge game Monday with 24 points. He hit seven of 12 shots overall and five of eight from long range.

Normally strictly a long-range shooter, Johnson scored several key baskets on drives to the hoop.

"They were really up on Cory guarding the outside shot and he took it to the basket a couple of times," said Garner.

Watson shook off the hip injury to score 16 points.

But it was not enough to keep the Indians from falling to 6-6 overall. Four of their losses have been by a total of nine points, including a one-point loss at Missouri and a three-point setback at Colorado.

"I don't think I've ever lost that many games that close in a season and we're still early," said Garner. "If just four plays total in those four games go our way at the end, we're 10-2. But you can't get those back."

Now the Indians will turn their attentions to the key OVC homestand as they face Tennessee Tech Thursday night and league-leading Middle Tennessee State Saturday night.

"Those are two big games, but they're all big in the conference," Garner said. "Winning at home is especially crucial."

* Southeast center Bud Eley, who has missed the last five games after suffering a broken foot on Dec. 11 against Southern Illinois, could possibly return to action as early as Thursday night.

Eley, who was ticketed to be out four weeks, appears to be recovering nicely and he will have the foot x-rayed again Thursday.

If everything checks out fine, he will probably play some in Thursday's game.

"The foot will be x-rayed and then the doctors will either say yes or no," said Garner. "If it's yes, we'll play Bud Thursday night. When I say play, he won't start, but we'll get him some minutes to start getting him ready."

Eley's return would certainly be welcomed, particularly on the boards.

* Freshman reserve guard Nathan Owen, who missed the last two games while serving a suspension for violating team rules, will return to action Thursday.

* Junior center David Montgomery continues to lead the OVC in field-goal percentage at 63.2 percent.

Watson, the Indians' junior forward, has been exceptional since moving into the starting lineup after Eley went down.

As a starter, Watson is averaging 12.4 points and five rebounds per game while shooting 73 percent (24 of 33).

* Thursday's game with Tennessee Tech at the Show Me Center is scheduled to tip off at 7:05 p.m. It will be televised by Fox Sports South, which is not available on local cable systems.