INDIANS WIN -- BEARLY

Southeast Missouri State University basketball fans certainly can't say they haven't gotten their money's worth over the past 11 days.

For the third time in less than two weeks, a game at the Show Me Center went down to the wire, with things not decided until virtually the final buzzer.

And, for the second time in those three games, the Indians came out on top as they held off Southwest Missouri State 73-71 in front of 4,737 fans Saturday night.

The Indians, who beat Southern Illinois by three points on Dec. 5 and lost to Tennessee Tech by two points on Dec. 9, improved to 6-3 with their second win of the season against a Missouri Valley Conference squad. The Bears from Springfield fell to 3-3.

"These kind of games are going to make an old man out of me quick," said Southeast coach Gary Garner with a smile. "But games like this will give you confidence when you get into a situation like this later in the season.

"We had a great effort tonight, and we beat a very good basketball team."

The contest ended on somewhat of a controversial note. Amory Sanders made one of two free throws with 9.8 seconds left to put Southeast up 73-71.

With 7.7 seconds left, SMS inbounded the ball. But the Bears never were able to get off a shot as Daniel Novak was trapped in the corner as time ran out.

But immediately as the final buzzer sounded, SMS coach Barry Hinson charged up to the officials, claiming that Southeast had six players on the court when the Bears had inbounded the ball.

"They did have six. That's why I went nuts at the end. It should have been a technical," said Hinson. "But coach Garner is as classy a guy as I've seen. He told me after the game I have a right to be upset."

Garner didn't deny that the Indians probably did have six players on the floor toward the end of the contest.

"I think we probably did," he said. "I don't really know what the call should have been."

Those final seconds notwithstanding, the game was a tight, tense battle between two evenly matched teams. SMS led by five points early in the game and the Indians grabbed a 28-17 lead late in the first half before settling for a 30-25 advantage at the break.

Southeast led by eight points in the early moments of the second half, but SMS used a 9-0 run to go ahead 40-39 with 13:10 left. The lead switched hands several times and there were several ties the rest of the way.

The Indians finally took the lead for good with 5:27 left as two Michael Stokes free throws made it 58-56. Southeast would lead by as many as five points at 64-59, but the Bears kept hitting big shots to pull within a point or two.

Southeast was also up by five at 67-62 after two Terry Rogers foul shots with 1:15 remaining.

It was 68-64 on two Emmanuel McCuthison free throws with 48 seconds left.

With 32 seconds left and Southeast leading 68-66, Antonio Short missed two free throws, but McCuthison grabbed a huge offensive rebound, which led to a pair of Stokes foul shots with 28 seconds left for a 70-66 Southeast lead.

Novak banked in a 3-pointer from straight on with 20 seconds left to make it 70-69.

McCuthison made two free throws with 18 seconds left for a 72-69 lead. Novak's follow shot with 10 seconds left made it 72-71. Sanders then hit one of two at the 9.8-second mark, which led to the final, frantic seconds.

Stokes had a huge game for the Indians, scoring 20 points, dishing out four assists and committing just one turnover in 38 minutes.

"Close games like this is what basketball is all about," said Stokes. "It's about competition and going down to the wire."

Sanders added 12 points off the bench while McCuthison had 10 points and grabbed six rebounds.

The Indians also got some solid inside play -- which had been a weak area for much of the season -- from the likes of Rogers (eight points,six rebounds), Daniel Weaver (seven points) and Drew DeMond (three blocks, including a key one late).

"I thought our inside game was much better," Garner said. "Daniel Weaver gave us a big lift."

Mike Wallace paced the Bears with 21 points. Novak and Charles Gaines had 13 each.

Southeast hit 27 of 35 free throws, including 24 of 32 in the second half. The Indians' final 11 points came from the charity stripe.

SMS went to the line just 13 times all night, hitting 12.

"Our emphasis was not to foul so much and I thought we did a good job," said Garner.

For only the second time all season, the Indians also won the rebounding battle 25-22 against a much more physical SMS squad.