SEMO NOW SETS SIGHTS ON OVC TOURNEY

It was only moments after Saturday night's big overtime win at Eastern Illinois when Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Gary Garner pointed something out to a reporter.

"We've beaten everybody in the conference now except Murray State," said Garner.

Told that the Indians can still pull that one off -- although it would have to be in the semifinal round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament -- Garner smiled and said, "That's the way to think."

But first things first for the Indians. In order to get a third crack at the mighty Racers, Southeast must beat Austin Peay for a third straight time when the teams play Tuesday night in Clarksville, Tenn., in the opening round of the OVC tourney. The tipoff will be at 7 p.m.

"That's going to be tough enough without even trying to think about Murray," Garner said.

But based on the way the Indians ended the regular season, Garner certainly likes his team's chances of at least getting to Nashville, Tenn., where the OVC Tournament semifinals and finals will be held Saturday and Sunday.

"We're just playing with so much confidence now," said Garner after Saturday's 84-77 victory over the Panthers, who finished second in the OVC behind Murray State. "Our guys feel like they can beat anybody no matter where the game is being played."

The Indians had visions of hosting Tuesday's first-round game, but you have to give Austin Peay credit because the Govs finished the season extremely strong by winning five of their last six games to hold off Southeast in the battle for fourth place -- and a tourney contest at home.

Southeast finished almost as strong by winning six of its last eight games. Not only will the Indians be entering the league tourney with plenty of momentum but they have also assured themselves of a winning season.

At 14-12 overall (10-8 in OVC play), the Indians can finish the year no worse than a game above .500 and, if they win Tuesday, that record could get quite a bit better.

The winning season is only Southeast's second in seven Division I seasons and the first in five years. Considering all the injuries the Indians have endured this year, that is quite an accomplishment.

"I think our players should be really proud of that," Garner said. "When the year starter, our staff talked about having two major goals. One was to have a winning season and one was to get to Nashville (for the OVC tourney semifinals).

"Now, you always want to do a lot better than just a winning season. But I think for our first year with the program, and considering all the injuries we've had, the players should be really proud that they're going to have a winning season no matter what happens (Tuesday)."

The 10 OVC victories for the Indians is also their most ever in one season. Previously, Southeast had recorded nine OVC wins twice.

Now the Indians will try to pull off a trifecta against the Govs. Southeast defeated Austin Peay 73-61 in Cape Girardeau on Dec. 6 and then routed the Govs 81-57 in Clarksville on Feb. 2. Austin Peay is 16-10 overall and 11-7 in league play.

Considering that Austin Peay has won 19 of its last 21 games at home -- including beating the likes of Murray State and Middle Tennessee this season -- Southeast's lopsided road win over the Govs was quite an accomplishment.

"Austin Peay would be tough to beat no matter where we played them because they're a very good team with some outstanding athletes," said Garner. "But I think, if we continue to play like we have been, we'll have a good chance."

And if the Indians do defeat the Govs Tuesday, then that would almost certainly set up a semifinal meeting with Murray State Friday at the Nashville Arena. The Racers are the only OVC team to beat Southeast twice this season.

Saturday's win over Eastern Illinois, in addition to assuring a winning season, also allowed the Indians to avenge every previous overtime defeat this season.

The Panthers had edged Southeast in overtime on Jan. 24 at the Show Me Center. Also beating the Indians in overtime this year were Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee-Martin and Tennessee State, but Southeast later came back to knock off all of those squads in the rematch.

The win over the Panthers also allowed the Indians to finally win an overtime game this season. They had lost four previous league contests that went to an extra five-minute period.

"It was great to get that (overtime) monkey off our backs," Garner said.

Saturday's win came despite Southeast hitting just four of 16 3-point shots and being outrebounded 45-29.

But the Indians had just eight turnovers and shot 60 percent from the field in the second half to wipe out a 10-point halftime deficit. They then took control from the start in overtime and outscored the Panthers 12-5.

OVC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

MEN

Tuesday's Games

(First Round)

(Seeds, records in parentheses)

(5) SE MISSOURI (14-12) at (4) Austin Peay (16-10), 7 p.m.

(8) Tenn. Tech (9-20) at (1) Murray St. (26-3), 7 p.m.

(7) Tenn. St. (11-15) at (2) Eastern, Ill. (16-10), 7 p.m.

(6) Eastern Ky. (10-16) at (3) Middle Tenn. (18-8), 7:30 p.m.

Saturday's Games

at Nashville Arena

Semifinals: 2 p.m., 6:30 p.m.

Sunday's Game

at Nashville Arena

Championship: 1:30 p.m. (ESPN)

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WOMEN

Tuesday's Games

(First Round)

(Seeds, records in parentheses)

(8) SE MISSOURI (8-18) at (1) Eastern Ky. (19-7), 6 p.m.

(7) Austin Peay (11-15) at (2) Tenn. Tech (21-6), 7 p.m.

(6) Tenn. St. (13-13) at (3) Tenn.-Martin (16-10), 7 p.m.

(5) Eastern Ill. (12-14) at (4) Middle Tenn. (15-11), 5:30 p.m.

Saturday's Games

at Nashville Arena

Semifinals: noon, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday's Game

at Nashville Arena

Championship: 6 p.m.