Otahkians stumble down the stretch

MARTIN, Tenn. -- It's not the type of streak Southeast Missouri State University wanted to carry into the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.

The Otahkians, who on Thursday had their seven-game winning streak snapped at Murray State, lost their regular-season finale Saturday as host Tennessee-Martin rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit to prevail 78-75 in overtime.

Southeast (15-12, 10-6) wound up fourth out of 11 OVC squads. The Otahkians, seeded fourth for the eight-team league tournament, will host No. 5 seed Murray State on Tuesday night in a first-round game.

"We just have to get ready for Tuesday," Southeast coach B.J. Smith said.

Asked how the two-game losing skid might affect the Otahkians when the conference tournament begins, Smith said, "I have no idea. We'll find out Tuesday."

Southeast, the preseason OVC favorite, appeared headed for an easy victory when it led UTM (11-15, 8-8) 41-26 at halftime.

But the Skyhawks, who lost at Southeast by 23 points on Feb. 5, staged a furious rally and sent the contest to overtime on Andreika Jackson's follow shot at the buzzer that tied the score 63-63.

"I knew I had to get it up there fast," said Jackson, who clearly released the ball just before the buzzer sounded.

Both teams held a pair of one-point leads early in the five-minute extra period. UTM went ahead 71-67, but Southeast tied it at 75-75 on Yashika Sidbury's 3-pointer with 38 seconds left.

The Skyhawks took the lead for good when Jackson hit one of two free throws with 26 seconds remaining. After Southeast missed a shot, two Julie Young free throws with seven seconds left made it 78-75. Sarah Costello then missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Jackson, a powerful 5-foot-9 freshman forward, dominated the Otahkians inside with 23 points and 19 rebounds. She had 17 points and 15 rebounds after halftime.

"My team relies on me to post up and get the ball in the basket," Jackson said.

Costello had 16 points, seven assists and three steals to lead Southeast, but she missed the front end of two one-and-one free-throw opportunities in the final 22 seconds of regulation that could have sealed the victory for the Otahkians.

Sami Jo Cotton scored 11 points for Southeast and Chandra Brown added 10. Miah Shelford grabbed 11 rebounds.