Indians need win to keep playoffs in sight

RICHMOND, Ky. -- The eighth and final spot in the Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament won't necessarily be decided tonight.

But if Southeast Missouri State University wants to have a realistic chance of qualifying for the league postseason event, it needs to beat Eastern Kentucky in a game that begins at 6:30 p.m. at McBrayer Arena.

Southeast (3-19 overall, 1-10 OVC) is last in the league. EKU (7-15, 3-8) is eighth and the Colonels moved two games ahead of the Indians by virtue of Thursday's 76-70 victory over Eastern Illinois.

If the Indians lose tonight, they'll fall three games behind the Colonels with just four contests remaining. But if the Indians prevail, they'll be only a game out of eighth and will have swept the season series from EKU to gain the tie-breaker edge if the squads wind up deadlocked in the standings.

"There's no question this is a must-win game for us now," Southeast coach Gary Garner said. "If we lose we won't be mathematically out of it, but being three games behind with only four to play, our chances would be very slim."

Southeast, in the midst of one of the program's worst seasons, has suffered eight straight losses and is 0-11 on the road.

The Colonels, after dropping their first six OVC games, have been solid in winning the past three of five.

"They've been playing well lately and they've got some good athletes," said Garner. "I don't think they played very well when we beat them at our place, but I know they'll be tough to beat at home."

While EKU was winning Thursday, Southeast fell 91-75 at Morehead State in a game similiar to many OVC contests for the Indians this season.

The pattern goes like this: Southeast has a strong first half, hangs tough for much of the second half and then wilts down the stretch. The Indians led Morehead 43-40 at halftime before the Eagles stormed back and won going away.

"It was pretty much the same story as in most of our games," Garner said.

If that formula emerges tonight, the Indians' chance of making the OVC Tournament will have taken a severe blow.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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