INDIANS RECEIVE A FINAL SALUTE

Southeast Missouri State University's amazing men's basketball season ended more than a week ago, but fans of the Indians took one more opportunity to cheer for their beloved team Friday evening.

More than 600 Southeast supporters turned out at the Show Me Center for `A Championship Celebration' honoring the 1999-2000 Indians, who compiled a number of firsts on the Division I level.

This season, the Indians won a share of their first Ohio Valley Conference championship, won their first OVC Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Division I Tournament for the first time while compiling a 24-7 record, the program's best since it moved up to the Division I level nine years ago.

In addition, the Indians very nearly pulled off the biggest upset of the NCAA tourney's first round, leading powerful LSU late in the game before dropping a 64-61 decision to a team ranked ninth and 10th in the two major national polls.

Thosein attendance roared their approval when Southeast president Dr. Ken Dobbins asked, "Isn't it great to be a Southeast fan?"

Dobbins was one of several speakers during an entertaining 90-minute program that featured performances by the Southeast Show Band, the cheerleaders and the Sundancers, in addition to an action-filled highlight video shown on a huge screen.

Also speaking were Don Dickerson, president of the Southeast Board or Regents who announced that the board had earlier in the day passed a resolution honoring the team's accomplishments; Southeast Booster Club president Mike Kohlfeld; and Southeast sports information director Ron Hines, who served as the program's master of ceremonies.

Kohlfeld drew plenty of applause when he said "What a difference a year makes," in reference to the past two OVC Tournament championship games. Last season, Murray State's Aubrey Reese hit a buzzer shot to beat the Indians by a point. This year, Reese went 1-for-18 as the Indians gained revenge against the Racers.

Then it was time for the team to take center stage. Everybody associated with the program was introduced, with all the players being introduced under a spotlight.

The Indians' three seniors -- Roderick Johnson, Mike Branson and Brian Bunche -- all spoke to the crowd and each thanked the fans for their strong support.

Southeast head coach Gary Garner also spoke, lauding the fans, his assistant coaches and his players for all contributing to the sensational season.

"This group of young men is a basketball family. They're not only tremendous competitors on the floor but tremendous young men off the floor," Garner said. "The saddest part of all this is to look at these three seniors because they're all leaving."

But nobody in attendance Friday appeared sad. The fans were all elated to be celebrating the Indians' big season one more time.