Tech manages without star, hands SE 7th straight loss

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech has plenty of weapons -- so many, in fact, the Golden Eagles can thrive even when their star player is on the bench.

That was the case Saturday when the Eagles remained undefeated in the Ohio Valley Conference with an 82-67 victory over Southeast Missouri State University.

The first-place Eagles improved to 16-4 overall and 9-0 in the OVC after they posted their 23rd consecutive home triumph and their 11th straight win overall. The last-place Indians fell to 3-18 and 1-9 with their seventh consecutive loss.

Tech junior forward Damien Kinloch, the Eagles' leading scorer and rebounder who also ranks among the OVC's best in those categories, picked up two early fouls and played only seven first-half minutes, during which he did not score a point or grab a rebound.

It turns out they didn't need to worry.

Kinloch's backup, 6-8 junior Greg Morgan, came off the bench to hit all six of his first-half shots -- none of them from more than a few feet away from the basket -- and score 14 points to help take the Eagles to a 43-34 halftime lead. Tech pulled away in the second half.

"It's nice to have somebody like Greg to bring in off the bench," said Tech coach Jeff Lebo.

No kidding.

Although Morgan averages just 7.9 points per game, he leads the OVC in field-goal shooting at 65.7 percent, just ahead of Kinloch's second-place 61.3-percent mark.

"It felt good," said Morgan, who finished the game with 16 points as he was perfect in seven attempts from the floor. "I just try to stay ready. Coach tries to prepare us to be ready whenever we're called on."

Kinloch, who averages 16.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, wound up with just nine points and four rebounds.

"It shows you what kind of team they have when Kinloch is in foul trouble and doesn't do anything the first half, but they can come in with a guy like Morgan off the bench," said Southeast coach Gary Garner. "I've said all along Tech is by far the best team in the conference and they've been proving it. They're really good."

Cameron Crisp added 13 points for the Eagles, who got 12 points from Brent Jolly.

For Southeast, Monte Gordon and Derek Winans both scored 15 points. Also in double figures were Damarcus Hence with 14 and Brett Hale with 12.

The Indians once again played without starting center Drew DeMond, who was in uniform but missed his third straight game with a sprained knee and ankle.

Although Morgan dominated inside during the first half, the Indians hung tough for most of the period. Southeast held several leads, the last one on a Gordon 3-pointer that made it 21-20 with 8:05 remaining.

But Tech finished the half strong, building two late 11-point advantages before settling for a nine-point lead at the intermission.

With Hence scoring Southeast's first seven points of the second half, the Indians remained within striking distance of the Eagles for quite a while. Winans' steal and layup with 12:35 left pulled Southeast to within 53-50 and the Indians trailed just 60-54 with under seven minutes to play.

Jolly and Crisp then buried consecutive 3-pointers to put the Eagles up 66-54 and pretty much end any upset hopes Southeast had as Tech coasted down the stretch, leading by as many as 18 points.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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