Thrilling 'bama trip ends 2-0

~ The Redhawks outlasted Jacksonville State 81-80 to pull off their second straight last-second victory.

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -- It remains to be seen if the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team is destined for a special season.

But it's safe to say that fate, along with some clutch shots, have been in the Redhawks' corner so far.

The Redhawks scored in the closing seconds to pull out an Ohio Valley Conference road victory for the second time in three nights.

This time it was freshman center Will Bogan's turn as his put-back with 1.9 seconds left Thursday lifted Southeast past Jacksonville State 81-80.

Sophomore guard Jimmy Drew's 3-pointer with 1 second remaining resulted in a 63-62 win at Samford on Tuesday in Birmingham, Ala.

"I just think we have luck on our side," sophomore guard Marcus Rhodes said. "We've been playing hard and good things are happening."

How good? The Redhawks are 4-0 in the OVC for the first time since the NCAA tournament season of 1999-2000.

The Redhawks (8-4) have won four straight to move into sole possession of first place in the OVC, one-half game ahead of Eastern Kentucky.

Southeast coach Scott Edgar smiled when asked if he believes the Redhawks are a team of destiny.

"I just think it shows you how close winning and losing are, and attitude and momentum," Edgar said. "Just reflect back to last year. We lost to these same two teams back-to-back at home on buzzer-beaters.

"There is still so much basketball left to be played, but it's great to be 4-0 in the OVC."

Edgar knew Southeast would be facing a desperate JSU squad that had lost five straight and had not beaten a Division I opponent this season.

The Gamecocks (2-9, 0-4) clanked shots all over the place and fell behind 25-5 midway through the first half. But JSU settled down and began throwing in shots from every conceivable angle.

The Gamecocks, down 37-34 at halftime, built an eight-point second-half lead and were still ahead by five points with less than 4 minutes to go.

"We blew a 20-point lead, but we knew they'd be scrappy at home," Rhodes said. "We were confident we'd pull it out."

Southeast went back ahead with 1 minute, 26 seconds remaining on junior wing Jaycen Herring's 3-pointer that made it 77-75, but the lead changed hands two times, including 80-79 in JSU's favor on a basket with 11 seconds left.

As Southeast set up for a late shot, JSU knocked the ball out of bounds with 6.6 seconds remaining.

The plan was for Herring, an athletic slasher, to attack the basket. He did, but his shot from in close was off the mark, apparently deflected.

Bogan was right there for the stick-back as he kissed it off the glass.

"I was just keeping my eye on the ball," Bogan said. "I got it and hit the layup."

Said Edgar: "I wanted Jaycen to take it to the basket. He can make that shot, and even if he doesn't, the defense collapses. Will was in great position."

The game ended with a bit of controversy as JSU threw a long, baseball-type pass toward the other end of the court.

Southeast junior guard Kenard Moore intercepted it and the buzzer immediately sounded, which brought protests from the JSU coaching staff that time expired too quickly.

But the official closest to where the pass was thrown ruled that Southeast senior forward Brandon Foust tipped the ball, which started the clock.

"I jumped as high as I could and got a good piece of it," Foust said.

The 6-foot-10 Bogan came off the bench to hit 7-of-9 shots and score a team-high 17 points, 13 in the second half.

Bogan, who enjoyed a strong start to the season, had seen his playing time diminish over the past few weeks.

The Bell City High School graduate also missed some recent practices after the death of his grandfather.

"Being a freshman, I know I have to wait my turn," said Bogan, who won't continue on the road trip for Saturday's nonconference game at Tulsa, instead returning home for his grandfather's funeral Saturday. "I just have to make the most of my minutes."

Said Edgar: "Will was unstoppable. They had no answer for him."

Herring scored 14 points, 12 in the second half.

Rhodes had his best offensive performance since early in the season as he scored 13 points, 10 in the final period. He led Southeast with seven rebounds.

Rhodes started because senior wing David Johnson missed the game with an ankle injury.

"Marcus had a great game," Edgar said. "That's why I try to develop my roster early in the season, because you never know who you're going to need. I've always said it's going to take all of us."

JSU freshman guard J.J. Wesley tied a school record with eight 3-pointers (in 15 attempts) and scored a career-high 28 points, but it wasn't enough as the Redhawks won another game at the buzzer.

"Both these games, winning by one point, with two different players hitting big shots," Bogan said. "It's kind of going our way now.We just want to keep it up."