MR. CLUTCH TO THE RESCUE: BUZZER SHOT SPURS SE TO 84-75 WIN OVER UTM

With the basketball in Kahn Cotton's hands, anything seems possible.

Cotton, Southeast Missouri State University's Mr. Clutch, delivered once again as the Indians pulled out an incredible 84-75 overtime victory over Tennessee-Martin Saturday night.

Things looked bleak for the Indians as they trailed most of the second half and were still behind 68-65 after UTM's Jason Ohlsen hit two free throws with 4.5 seconds left.

But Cotton took the inbounds pass, sped up the court and stopped about 28 feet away from the basket on the left side. He let fly with a shot that hit nothing but net as the buzzer sounded, sending the game into overtime and sending the 5,330 fans at the Show Me Center into a frenzy.

The Indians then outscored the Skyhawks 16-7 in the five-minute extra session as they avoided their first true `upset' loss of the season.

Southeast is now 11-6 overall and 8-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play as the Indians remained in second place, one-half game behind 8-0 Murray State. And the Indians are now at least a full three games ahead of every other OVC squad.

UTM fell to 4-11 overall, 2-6 in the league.

Cotton, a 5-foot-10 senior guard, had very nearly hit the game-winning shot Thursday night against Murray State as his eight-footer with 5.6 seconds left put the Indians a point ahead of the Racers -- only to see Murray score the winning basket with less than a second remaining.

Earlier this season, Cotton scored on a driving shot with two seconds left to provide a one-point victory at Arkansas State. And last season he hit a long 3-pointer to force overtime against Tennessee State, although the Indians ultimately lost.

"I always want the ball in that situation," said Cotton, moments after the victory.

Cotton was the first to admit that things certainly looked bad for the Indians, who came out obviously lagging after Thursday's tough loss in a first-place OVC showdown.

"It looked bad. We came out flat and you have to give Martin credit because they really played well," he said. "I just wanted to get the ball up the court as fast as possible and send the game into overtime."

Cotton said he felt good about the shot as soon as he let it go.

"He (Ohlsen) kind of backed off and that's when I shot it," said Cotton. "From the time I let it go, it felt good."

Southeast coach Gary Garner had the same feeling.

"From where I was sitting, it looked good all the way," Garner said. "What can you say about Kahn. Think about what he's done, against Murray and Arkansas State, and also last year.

"In that situation, we wanted either Kahn or Cory (Johnson) to bring the ball up as quickly as possible, preferably Kahn."

The clutch shot and Southeast's dominance in overtime allowed the Indians to pull out a game they probably didn't deserve to win.

"We were definitely fortunate tonight," said Garner. "We didn't come out with the intensity we needed after Thursday's game. We have to do a better job of taking it one game at a time."

Roderick Johnson paced the Indians with 23 points, 16 coming after halftime -- including six in overtime. Johnson hit two pressure-packed free throws with 8.5 seconds left to pull the Indians to within 66-65, meaning Ohlsen's two foul shots four seconds later could not ice the win for the Skyhawks. Johnson also grabbed nine rebounds.

"Rod had a tremendous game and hit some really big shots and free throws," Garner said.

Cotton scored 20 points while Cory Johnson added 14 points, five coming in overtime.

Center Bud Eley, who fouled out late in regulation, took just five shots (he hit four) and scored only eight points, but he grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out six assists. Cotton also had six assists.

Mike Branson also scored eight points, as did Nathan Owen, who provided a lift off the bench by hitting three of four shots, including two of three 3-pointers.

Ohlsen paced the Skyhawks with 19 points. Ryan DeMichael and Andrae Betts both scored 16 while Sean Griffin had 14 and Joe Crumby added 10.

The Indians led 22-13 early, but the Skyhawks began to take control and opened up a 39-34 halftime lead.

Southeast led only twice in the second half, at 50-49 and later 54-53 on a Branson basket with 6:33 remaining.

But the Skyhawks regained control and opened up a 62-55 lead with a little more than four minutes to play.

UTM still led 64-59 with just under three minutes left. Southeast pulled to within 64-63, but Crumby hit two free throws with 22 seconds left for a 66-63 UTM lead.

R. Johnson then hit two foul shots to again draw the Indians to within one, followed by Ohlsen's two free throws and Cotton's buzzer-beating trey.

The Indians quickly took control in overtime as R. Johnson's basket and free throw just seven seconds in gave Southeast a 71-68 lead that they would not relinquish.

Branson's basket with 3:15 left made it 73-69.

After UTM pulled to within 73-71, Southeast benefited from a key sequence that allowed them to take charge. R. Johnson hit a free throw with 1:35 left for a 74-71 lead, but he missed the second foul shot. However, Branson grabbed the rebound and seconds later C. Johnson drilled a 3-pointer to make it 77-71.

After UTM missed a shot, Cotton hit two free throws with 55 seconds left to put the Indians on top 79-71. C. Johnson and R. Johnson both hit two foul shots while Brian Bunche made one of two from the line in the last 40 seconds to ice things.

Southeast will be off until next Saturday when the Indians travel to Charleston, Ill., for an OVC game with Eastern Illinois.