Indians face last-place EIU

It has been increasingly frustrating for Southeast Missouri State University coach Gary Garner that, although he knows the Indians are considerably improved over last season, their record doesn't truly reflect it.

After going 11-19 overall last year and 5-11 in Ohio Valley Conference play -- which tied them for seventh place in what was then an eight-team league -- several returning starters combined with some key newcomers had the Indians hopeful of contending for the OVC title.

But heading into tonight's 7:30 p.m. game against last-place Eastern Illinois (4-16, 2-8) at the Show Me Center, the Indians (10-11, 3-7) are in a three-way tie for eighth place in the 11-team league. Only the top eight qualify for the OVC tournament.

"It's very frustrating," Garner said. "The bottom line is the results, whether you win or lose, but we could easily be right up there in this race."

Last year, only two or three of Southeast's 11 OVC losses were close in the closing minutes, with the Indians truly having a legitimate chance to win.

Already this season, five of the Indians' seven conference defeats have been totally up for grabs in the final minute. They have suffered those five setbacks by a total of 15 points, including Saturday's 80-74 home loss to Murray State in which the Racers trailed most of the game but used a late 15-0 run to prevail.

"We're so close. Those are five games we could have won," Garner said. "If we win just a couple of those, we're right up there contending for a least a spot in the top four.

"I'm really disappointed in our record in the conference, but I'm not down. Our kids are really hanging in there. We're just so close to being a good basketball team. We may not turn the corner this year, but I think we will. I think we can play with any team in our league."

His players believe that as well.

"We think we can compete with anybody and hopefully we can still turn it around," senior center Brandon Griffin said. "We're so close."

Added junior forward Dainmon Gonner, "It's never too late. We're going to keep working hard and fighting."

EIU coach Rick Samuels said he can sympathize with the Indians because his squad has gone through much of the same thing, although not quite as extreme. Of the Panthers' eight OVC losses, they probably had a legitimate chance to win five of those heading down the stretch.

"We've been in most of our conference games," Samuels said. "We've had a lot of close losses, but SEMO's have been even closer, going to the last possessions."

Samuels, although his team is mired in last place, knows EIU still has time to make a move upward in the conference standings because things are tight past the top two of Austin Peay and Murray State. Saturday's 83-79 overtime win over Tennessee-Martin breathed some life into the Panthers, who broke an eight-game losing streak.

"No question," Samuels said. "We feel like we've been resuscitated."

Josh Gomes, a 6-foot-3 sophomore guard, scored a career-high 40 points to lead the Panthers Saturday. He is EIU's only player averaging in double figures at 13.5 points per game.

"He's talented, such a smooth offensive player," Samuels said. "We really have high expectations for him."

Gomes had 12 points and 6-6 junior forward Aaron Patterson 18 during the earlier meeting against Southeast, which the Indians won 84-64 in Charleston, Ill., on Jan. 13. Garner is wary of both Gomes and Patterson, who is averaging 9.7 points.

"Gomes is a really good player and Patterson is a good post-up player, strong around the basket," Garner said. "With Gomes on the outside and then throwing it down to Patterson, they're tough."

In the earlier meeting, Southeast used a big second half to turn a two-point halftime lead into a blowout. Junior guard Derek Winans led the Indians with 29 points.

Garner doesn't expect that easy of a time tonight, but he does believe it's still not to late for the Indians to get on a strong roll over the final six games of the regular season.

"I've thought all along that we were going to get on a streak," Garner said. "It hasn't happened yet, but we're just so close, and I still think we can do it."