INDIANS RUN INTO VICTOR, NOT VICTORY

Cuthbert Victor had hardly been a factor for Murray State's men's basketball team during the first 12 games of the season.

But Thursday night, Victor was probably the game's No. 1 star as he helped lead the Racers past Southeast Missouri State University 60-58 in front of season-high Show Me Center crowd of 5,943.

By winning the battle of the defending Ohio Valley Conference regular-season co-champions, the Racers improved to 7-6 overall and 2-0 in league play.

The Indians, who suffered their second two-point home OVC loss of the season, fell to 9-6 overall and 1-3 in the conference.

Victor, a wiry 6-foot-5, 190-pound freshman from the Virgin Islands, came up big in his first collegiate start. He scored 14 points on 7-for-9 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and turned in the defensive play of the game when he blocked Michael Stokes' driving shot at the buzzer to preserve the victory.

In addition, Victor played a major role in holding Southeast's leading scorer, Emmanuel McCuthison, to just five points on 2-for-9 shooting, although McCuthison was bothered by a touch of the flu.

All in all, it was quite a performance for a 17-year-old who entered the contest averaging 3.2 points and 2.6 rebounds while playing an average of 8.6 minutes per game.

"At first I was scared. I'm still learning," said Victor, sporting a big grin in the post-game interview room. "But coach had confidence in me. I thank him for letting me start and trusting in me."

When asked how he felt following the stellar performance, Victor's eyes lit up.

"I feel good," he said. "It's a big win. All I'm hearing is this is our big rivalry."

While Murray State coach Tevester Anderson might have been bringing Victor along slowly this season, Anderson believes he has a real gem on his hands.

"I said from day one, before it's over, he'll be a star in this league," Anderson said. "I thought he was just awesome today. If they were giving away a game ball, he'd get my game ball."

Anderson would get no argument from Southeast coach Gary Garner.

"Victor was really a big factor in the game tonight," said Garner. "He made a great block at the end."

Murray State star Isaac Spencer led all scorers with 20 points and he also pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.

For Southeast, Antonio Short led the way with 17 points while Stokes had 13 points to go along with seven rebounds and five assists. Terry Rogers added nine points and six rebounds. Drew DeMond, who had been questionable with a deep foot blister, grabbed eight rebounds, blocked two shots and played some hard-nosed defense on the rugged Spencer.

As had been the case in most of the meetings over the last two seasons between the fierce rivals, this one went down to the wire.

Southeast, committing 10 first-half turnovers and hitting just two of seven free throws, fell behind 31-23 by the intermission.

But the Indians came out strong in the second half and finally caught the Racers at 42-42 on a Stokes drive with 11:45 remaining.

After the Racers surged back ahead 44-42, a Stokes jumper forced another tie, then Stokes hit two free throws with 8:43 left to put Southeast on top 46-44. It was the Indians' first lead since 12-11 at the midway point of the opening half.

Neither squad led by more than three points the rest of the way as there were seven lead changes and three ties over the final 8:30.

The Indians led by three twice, at 53-50 after a Short layup with 4:25 left and at 55-52 on Short jumper at the 2:38 mark.

But Spencer scored four straight points, his driving shot after a crucial Southeast turnover putting Murray State up 56-55 with 1:05 to play.

Amory Sanders, fouled as he drove into the lane with 42 seconds left, hit both free throws for a 57-56 Southeast lead.

Then Spencer, the OVC's third-leading scorer, came up big with an assist. He knifed into the lane and, just as Southeast's defense converged on him, found Victor underneath. Victor rammed home a one-handed dunk with 23 seconds left, putting the Racers up 58-57.

After Stokes missed a tough baseline shot, Murray State's Antione Whelchel was fouled with 10 seconds remaining. He calmly nailed both free throws to make it 60-57.

The Racers, not wanting Southeast to have a chance at attempting a potential game-tying 3-pointer, fouled Short near mid-court with eight seconds left. Short was able to make just one of two, leaving the score at 60-58.

Murray State's Chris Shumate was fouled with seven seconds left and he missed the front end of a one-and-one, leaving the door open for the Indians.

Victor, however, slammed it shut. Stokes, driving the length of the court after Rogers grabbed the rebound of Shumate's miss, went up for about a 10-foot runner to the left of the basket. But Victor swooped in for a clean block as the buzzer sounded.

"In a game like this, the outcome usually comes down to one or two plays," Garner said. "I felt we had two crucial turnovers late in the game that really hurt us. And we didn't shoot well from the line (61 percent on 14 of 23).

"But I thought we played pretty well and the effort was there. I think you've got to give Murray State credit for coming in here and winning the basketball game."

And now the Indians face an uphill climb in the OVC after suffering their second conference home loss in as many games.

"It's disappointing because we could have won both of them," said Garner. "We have really dug ourselves a hole, but there is still a lot of basketball left to be played."

Beginning with Saturday night's home game against Tennessee-Martin.