SOUTHEAST-MURRAY GAME DRAWS OVER 7,000

A red wave washed over the Show Me Center Saturday and appeared in everything from stickers on clothing to painted torsos as fans arrived in record numbers to show support for the Southeast Missouri State Indians in their battle against the Racers of Murray State.

"Murray State is an old rival," said Mary Davis, an avid Southeast basketball fan. "Our team is absolutely the best," she said.

"This place is jumpin'," said Chris Rushin, who works with the sports information department for the University. "Everybody has been looking forward to this game since last year's loss to Murray at Nashville. Everybody penciled in this date as soon as the schedule came out."

The fact that ESPN was on sight to televise the game nationally added to the overall excitement of the afternoon.

A few scalpers with tickets in hand tried to make last-minute sales to unlucky fans who waited too long to buy tickets for the sold-out game.

Some standing room only tickets had been sold as well. "We're letting people stand today because of the national coverage and the school rivalry," Trousdale said. The official count listed 7,241 in attendance.

Derik Manis looked a little out of place among all the red shirts as he stood in the lobby before the game. Manis sported a Murray State shirt. He and his father, Thomas Manis, traveled to Cape Girardeau to support their team.

"We try to go to all the games unless they're really far away; we're true blue fans," said Thomas Manis.

With the cheerleaders pumping the crowd, the band playing and the Sun Dancers strutting their collective stuff, the fans were on an emotional high and ready for the game to begin.

Old and young alike kept pace with the beat and stomped and clapped as the Indians took the floor. Beth Dietrich, Jen Simon and Josh Hester showed their support with painted faces. The group usually attends games but doesn't always display such enthusiasm.

"Today's special," said Dietrich, a Southeast senior.

The first basket of the game, scored by the Racers, brought a cheer from behind the Southeast student section. Heads turned with less than pleasing looks to see who had invaded Indian territory.

Kelly Clem, a Murray senior, just smiled. "My dad is with the sports film crew," she said. "He got us passes, but we don't have seats."

Freshmen Lance Crawford and Jed Wilson were among the Theta Xi Redmen who "stomped" around the stands. The chanting and marching of the group is a regular event at home games. With red painted faces and torsos and a lot of noise, their enthusiasm was evident.

"We're sorry," one Theta Xi yelled as the group received a few disapproving looks from fans as the sound reverberated off the metal landing of the collapsible bleachers.

A late first half run by the Indians brought fans to their feet as shouts of "Let's go, SEMO" filled the center.

Although fans were less than pleased with the 30-37 Racer half-time lead, they weren't about to give up on the Indians.

"They have to hustle, they just have to want it," said Gordon Feeney of Jackson. Jackson and his wife Martha are staunch supporters of the Indians.

"We try to come to as many games as we can," said Martha Feeney.

Rick and Scarlett Dittlinger of Cape Girardeau and both Southeast Missouri alumni brought their two-year old son Conner to Saturday's game.

"His grandpa (Sam Below) played for SEMO," said Scarlett Dittlinger.

The toddler and his father were busy playing their own game of basketball during the half-time intermission. Conner, wearing a Southeast sweatshirt, was learning the important aspects of the game. When asked by his father who his favorite team was, he quickly reported "SEMO." He also knew what you were supposed to do with the ball.

"Shoot," he said.

The beginning of the second half found many fans standing and that's the way they stayed for much of the remainder of the game. Shouts of "Way to go," "oh no" and "I can't believe that call" were heard throughout the stands.

A sea of white wiggly worms (balloons) waved by fans did little to break the Racers' concentration at the charity stripe. Fans were hoping to squelch the team's 87 percent free throw shooting for the day.

Although the Indians fell 77-60, fans will be there to cheer their team when they take on Eastern Illinois at Charleston, Ill., next Saturday.