INDIANS KAHN ROAD WIN OUT OF GOVS; GUARD MAKES SEASON DEBUT IN 74-65 WIN

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Kahn Cotton, coming back from knee problems to see his first action of the season Thursday night, did not make a field goal.

But what a huge difference Southeast Missouri State University's senior guard was nonetheless as the Indians opened Ohio Valley Conference play with a 74-65 road victory over Austin Peay.

Cotton hit 11 of 13 free throws -- all in the second half. And he made three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt with 7:29 left in the game to break a tie and put the Indians ahead 53-50.

They never lost that lead.

"It felt good to be out there again," said a smiling Cotton. "It took me a while to get loose, but my knees felt fine. It was good to contribute."

For the Indians, now 3-2 overall, the win was just plain good all the way around. They opened a two-game road trip with a victory over a team picked to finish third in the 10-team OVC. Southeast, tabbed for fifth, plays at preseason No. 2 Tennessee State Saturday night.

"Boy, this is a big win for us," said an elated Southeast coach Gary Garner. "To beat the team picked third in our league on the road is huge.

"I was really proud of our guys. We had so many big performances. And we kept our composure."

Senior guard Cory Johnson, who had been struggling some with his shot, broke out in a big way. He led the Indians with 20 points, 14 coming in the first half. Johnson hit four of five 3-pointers and all six free throws.

"I've worked on my shot the last 10 days while we were off and I felt good," said Johnson. "This is a big win, to get the first one on this road trip. Now we feel like we can get both of them."

Bud Eley had 12 points, 10 in the second half. Roderick Johnson and Mike Branson both scored 10 points. Jeramy Biles added eight points and had five assists as he ran a solid floor game, along with Cotton.

"I've said all along I wasn't worried about Cory," Garner said. "And Jeramy had his best game of the year. And he was sick tonight. He threw up at halftime."

Austin Peay (1-3) got 21 points from standout Trenton Hassell, who scored 17 in the second half. But Branson made Hassell work for everything he got.

"I thought Mike Branson just did an outstanding job (on Hassell)," said Garner. "You saw what Hassell was like late."

C. Johnson came out on fire and never let up in the first half as he hit all five of his shots, including four 3-pointers, and finished the opening 20 minutes with 14 points.

The first half was marred for the Indians when key inside reserve Brian Bunche sprained an ankle early in the game and never returned. He left the arena after the game on crutches and is questionable for Saturday.

Southeast grabbed an early 12-2 lead but then hit a drought. Austin Peay went ahead for the first time at 18-16 with a little more than six minutes left before halftime.

Austin Peay's biggest lead of the first half was 21-16.

But the Indians were able to go to the locker room ahead when Biles drove the length of the floor for a lefthanded layup at the buzzer, making it 28-27.

Hassell, embarking on a big final 20 minutes, scored to begin the second half as the Govs went back on top 29-28. But Eley answered for the Indians, putting them ahead 30-29.

Although the game was tied four more times, Southeast never again trailed. Cotton's three free throws put the Indians ahead for good and they were able to hold off the Govs down the stretch -- but it was far from easy.

Just 35 seconds after Cotton's free throws, C. Johnson made two foul shots to put Southeast ahead 55-50.

It was 59-55 when Biles hit Eley for a layup with two minutes left. Then C. Johnson made two free throws at the 1:32 mark, giving the Indians what seemed like a fairly safe 63-55 lead.

But Hassell and Nick Stapleton sandwiched 3-pointers around two Branson free throws, pulling the Govs to within 65-61 with 1:10 remaining.

Southeast, however, was flawless from the charity stripe to choke off any hopes Austin Peay had left.

C. Johnson hit two free throws to make it 67-61, then the Govs missed a 3-pointer and Cotton made two foul shots for a 69-61 lead with 40 seconds left.

The Govs got back to within 69-63, but Cotton hit five of six free throws in the final 33 seconds to ice the victory.

From the point Cotton hit his three foul shots to break the tie, the Indians nailed an amazing 20 straight free throws. They were 21 of 24 in the second half.

And Southeast was also impressive from the field, shooting 56 percent (24 of 43), including 60 percent in the second half (12 of 20).

"I was really proud of our offense in the second half," Garner said. "With the way we've been playing defense, if we can keep that offense going, we have a chance to be a good basketball team."