Griffin sure to miss final two home games

As Southeast Missouri State University's Indians prepare for their final two home games of the season this week, senior center Brandon Griffin has virtually been ruled out of both contests.

Griffin suffered a severely sprained ankle in the opening minutes of Saturday's 90-86 loss at Tennessee State.

"Brandon is pretty much for sure out this week," Southeast coach Gary Garner said Monday. "We hope to have him back for next week."

The Indians (10-13, 3-9) are in a three-way tie for last place in the 11-team Ohio Valley Conference. They close out their home schedule against fifth-place Eastern Kentucky (11-12, 6-6) Thursday night and third-place Morehead State (13-10, 8-4) Saturday night.

Southeast's final two regular-season games are on the road next week, against Murray State and Tennessee-Martin. The Indians need to finish in at least eighth place to qualify for the OVC tournament.

Griffin, a 6-foot-8, 230-pounder, is the Indians' second-leading scorer, leading rebounder and top assist man. He is averaging 12.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, the latter figure ranking fifth in the OVC. He is also third in the league in field-goal shooting at 57.6 percent.

Prior to the Tennessee State game, Griffin had been averaging 15.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists over his last nine contests while shooting 66 percent from the field.

"Brandon had really been playing so well," Garner said. "We're going to miss him, and it's really a shame as a senior he probably won't be able to play in his final home games."

Reggie Golson, a 6-7 junior forward, is scheduled to start in place of Griffin this week.

Cotton honored by OVC

Southeast junior guard Sami Jo Cotton was selected the OVC women's newcomer of the week. Cotton averaged 15.5 points, four assists and three steals in victories last week over Eastern Illinois and Tennessee St. She also had nine 3-pointers in the two games, including a career-high six against EIU.