INDIANS FALL TO GOVS IN 2 OT 67-64

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball team ventured into unfamiliar territory Saturday night.

For the first time all season, the Indians are saddled with a two-game losing streak, thanks to Austin Peay's spine-tingling 67-64 double-overtime triumph in front of 4,667 fans at the Dunn Center.

And what made the setback -- which knocked Southeast into a virtual first-place Ohio Valley Conference tie with Murray State -- especially disheartening was the fact the Governors prevailed despite playing most of the game without superstar Trenton Hassell.

Hassell, who leads the Govs in scoring, rebounding and assists, reinjured an ankle that he had sprained a couple of weeks ago.

Hassell went down 10 minutes into the first half after scoring just two points, which is 17 below his average. He did not return.

Still, the Governors -- despite struggling offensively much of the way without their leader on the floor -- were able to receive enough contributions from other people to prevail.

"I'm just really proud of all our players," said Austin Peay coach Dave Loos. "It was a tough situation when Trenton went down, but I thought everybody rallied together.

"SEMO is a really good team. Either team could have won this game and we feel very fortunate. It's a big one for us."

The Indians fell to 16-5 overall and 9-3 in OVC play. They still technically lead Murray State by one-half game in the league race, but the 8-3 Racers have pulled into a tie on the loss side.

Austin Peay improved to 12-8 overall and 6-6 in the league.

"These kinds of games are always tough to lose, especially in a conference race," said Southeast coach Gary Garner. "It really hurts. A couple of bounces here or there and we win the game.

"You really have to give Austin Peay credit, especially after Hassell went down. They played with a lot of heart and desire. But so did our guys. They played their hearts out. I can't fault the effort."

Nick Stapleton had a huge game for the Govs as he scored 26 points in picking up the slack after Hassell was injured. The junior guard hit 10 of 23 shots from the field, including four of seven 3-pointers.

Mike Head hit four of five 3-pointers and scored 14 points while Joe Williams had 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Roderick Johnson hit nine of 12 shots and led the Indians with 21 points. Michael Stokes added 16 points.

Southeast, which fell behind 5-0 early only to lead 9-7, trailed 13-7 when Hassell went down midway through the first half.

Austin Peay quickly went ahead 15-7, but the Govs then suffered a lengthy scoring drought as Southeast used a 14-0 run grab a 19-15 lead late in the opening half.

The Govs tied it at 19-all, but Stokes scored with 59 seconds left and the Indians carried a 21-19 lead into the break.

Johnson scored the first basket of the second half as the Indians matched their biggest lead of the night at 23-19.

Southeast led 25-22, but Head hit three 3-pointers to ignite a 17-9 Austin Peay run as the Govs went ahead 39-34 midway through the final half.

The Indians used a 6-0 run to go up 40-39 with just under eight minutes left. The lead then changed hands four times before Stapleton's consecutive 3-pointers put the Govs ahead 49-44 with just over two minutes remaining.

But Southeast got a three-point play inside from Johnson with 1:31 left and another inside basket from Johnson with 57 seconds left to pull into a 49-49 tie.

After Antonio Short stole a pass with 25 seconds left, the Indians had a chance to win at the end. But Stokes, after dribbling the clock almost all the way down, saw his shot from just inside the free-throw line roll around the rim several times before bouncing away at the buzzer.

"We just about won it there at the end with Stokes," Garner said. "The ball did everything but go in."

After mostly choppy offensive play by both squads during regulation, the teams waged an impressive shootout in the two five-minute overtime periods, with Southeast's biggest lead two points and Austin Peay leading by no more than three points.

Johnson scored the first basket in overtime as Southeast went ahead 51-49, but the lead would change hands five times.

Southeast trailed 61-59 in the closing seconds of the five-minute extra period. Mike Branson missed a 3-pointer, but Johnson put in the follow shot with three seconds left for a 61-61 tie. It was on to a second overtime.

A 17-footer by Brian Bunche put the Indians ahead 63-61 at the outset of the second extra period. After Austin Peay pulled into a 63-63 tie, Branson hit one of two free throws with 2:39 left to give the Tribe a 64-63 lead.

But Southeast would not score again. Austin Peay freshman Matt Jakeway hit a driving shot with 51 seconds remaining to put the Govs up 65-64.

Southeast then lost possession in traffic underneath the Austin Peay basket, the ball rolling out of bounds and awarded to the Govs with 40 seconds left.

Stapleton, the star of the overtimes with 11 points, got the rebound of his own missed shot and put in a short scoop with 6.7 seconds left, giving the Govs a 67-64 lead.

Short got a great look at a potential game-tying 3-pointer from straight on, but the ball bounced high off the rim and away as the buzzer sounded.

The Indians will now return home for three games, beginning Tuesday night when Middle Tennessee visits the Show Me Center.