INDIAN BUS LETS ON ANOTHER WIN; SE WINS AT TECH 64-51

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians have had all kinds of problems playing at Tennessee Tech over the years.

But in this season of huge road victories for Southeast, not even the unfriendly confines of the Eblen Center could slow down the rampaging Indians.

Southeast, which had been only 1-6 at the Eblen Center since joining the Ohio Valley Conference eight years ago, posted a 64-51 victory in front of 3,400 fans Saturday night.

The Indians, by winning their third straight game, improved to 9-5 overall and a first-place 6-0 in the OVC as they remained one-half game ahead of Murray State in the league standings.

Four of the Indians' six conference victories have come on the road.

Tech fell to 5-8 overall, 1-4 in OVC play.

"I've said a lot of times that there's nothing more satisfying in basketball than winning a road conference game," said an elated Southeast coach Gary Garner. "We had a great road trip, beating both Middle Tennessee and Tennessee Tech.

"And we've already won four conference games on the road, which is a tremendous accomplishment. The guys played really hard in both games on this trip and it's very gratifying to come away with a sweep. We've been able to stay really focused, which isn't always easy to do."

Southeast had a balanced offensive attack. Cory Johnson hit four of six 3-pointers and led the way with 14 points. Mike Branson scored 13 points and pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.

"This is a big win for us," said Johnson. "To go on the road and get both of these is really great."

Bud Eley continued his strong play with 11 points, seven rebounds and seven blocked shots.

Demetrius Watson, Kahn Cotton and Roderick Johnson all added eight points. Cotton had a team-high five assists.

"All our guys really played well," Garner said. "Our starters did a good job and Roderick Johnson, Fred Abraham, Brian Bunche and Nathan Owen all really gave us a great lift off the bench."

Tech got 16 points from Josh Heard, but he hit only six of 18 shots. Corey Hemphill, averaging 14 points, was held to just six.

"Kahn did an unbelievable job on Hemphill," said Garner. "Defensively, we really played well again. I thought a 10-minute stretch in the second half was probably our best stretch of defense we've had since I've been here."

Garner said before the game how much Tech had improved since last season under first-year coach Jeff Lebo, so he knew things would definitely not be easy for the Indians.

And they sure weren't. Southeast led just 33-32 at halftime after a hotly contested opening 20-minutes that featured several strong runs by both teams.

With C. Johnson hitting three early 3-pointers, the Indians started strong. They scored the first seven points of the game and led 10-2 before Tech scored nine straight points to go ahead 11-10.

Southeast came right back with its own 9-0 run to take a 19-11 lead before Tech pulled to within 19-18.

The Indians went back on top 24-18 and they later led 29-25 before a 7-0 Tech run gave the Eagles their biggest lead of the opening half at 32-29.

But Southeast scored the final four points of the half, including a driving shot in the lane by Cotton that put the Indians on top 33-32 at the break.

The lead changed hands twice in the opening moments of the second half, Tech going ahead 37-35 on Hemphill's 3-pointer less than two minutes in.

But the Indians came right back with an 8-0 run as they began to take control. Cotton's 3-pointer gave Southeast a 38-37 lead, then Branson followed with a 3-pointer and Watson scored inside to make it 43-37 with just under 17 minutes to play.

Tech pulled to within three points, but C. Johnson drilled a trey for a 46-40 lead with just under 15 minutes remaining.

After the Eagles again got to within three points, Branson knocked down a trey to make it 49-43 with 10:46 left.

Then the Indians really began to put the pressure on the Eagles. R. Johnson dunked after a great pass from Branson to make it 51-43 with 10:15 remaining.

R. Johnson got inside for a basket to put the Indians on top 53-44 at the 8:30 mark.

Less than a minute later, R. Johnson followed up his own missed shot for a 55-44 lead. Then Branson bombed in a 3-pointer with 6:28 left to open up a 58-44 advantage.

Tech never again threatened as Southeast basically spent the rest of the game working the clock. The Indians held at least a 12-point lead the rest of the way and their biggest advantage was 16, which they had twice.

Southeast will now return home for its next three games, beginning Tuesday night when Austin Peay comes to the Show Me Center.