Big start clears path for cruise past SMS

Southeast Missouri State University couldn't have enjoyed a better first five minutes Saturday.

And the rest of the night wasn't bad either as the Indians, bolstered by scoring the game's first 13 points, ran away to a surprisingly easy 70-53 victory over Southwest Missouri State.

An announced crowd of 4,892 at the Show Me Center saw the Indians even their record at 5-5 and drop the Bears from Springfield to 3-5.

"We've had a lot of slow starts this year and I went to the team this week and really pounded them about slow starts," Southeast coach Gary Garner said. "And tonight we got off to a great start."

How good was it? Southeast, running its offense to near perfection and playing sticky defense, hit six of its first eight shots while holding SMS scoreless for the opening 5:24 of action.

By the time the Bears' Terrance McGee hit a 15-footer, the Indians still held a 13-2 lead. SMS never got closer than seven points the rest of the way and never closer than 12 points in the second half after Southeast spurted to a 42-26 halftime advantage.

"To get out to a 13-0 lead really helped us," guard Derek Winans said. "Everything was clicking for us, especially early."

Winans had a superb all-around game as he ran the show from the point virtually the entire way because of the absence of Kevin Roberts, who is out with a foot injury. Winans scored 17 points and dished out 10 assists while playing the entire 40 minutes. He hit five of seven shots from the field, including three of five from 3-point range.

"I give a lot of credit to our coaching staff for having them scouted so well," Winans said. "We really knew what was coming."

Guard Brett Hale, who was doubtful to play because of a back injury, came off the bench to score 15 points. He had been struggling with his shooting this season but hit six of 11 field-goal attempts, including three of four 3-pointers.

"I've been pretty much day to day and I didn't know Friday if I would play. But I felt good today," said Hale, who added with a laugh, "Maybe the time off helped my shooting. It was nice to get going again."

Said Garner, "I can't say enough about Brett. We didn't even know if he would play, but he hit so many big shots and played great defense on McGee. And Derek had a great game."

Forward Damarcus Hence scored 16 points while center Brandon Griffin added 15 points and 12 rebounds as the Indians won the battle of the boards 32 to 29.

"This was one of our better games," Hence said. "For them to beat Arkansas State and St. Louis U., this is a big win. We needed that."

The Indians hit 17 of 26 shots from the field in the first half for a sizzling 65.4 percent.

Winans didn't miss a first-half shot -- he made two 3-pointers -- while Hale hit four of six shots, including two of three 3-pointers. Winans and Hale both scored 10 points in the opening period and Hence added nine points on 4-for-7 shooting.

Things went so well for the Indians in the first half that little-used walk-on John Boggio, pressed into service when Demetrius King went out with an injury -- although he would return -- hit a 3-pointer. Boggio had scored two points all season before Saturday.

After Southeast's 13-0 start, Hale's 3-pointer with 12:19 left in the first half made it 16-2. The game settled down for quite a while after that and SMS closed the deficit to 31-24 with a little more than three minutes remaining.

But the Indians ended the period with an 11-2 run and Hale's 15-footer with three seconds left sent Southeast into the locker room with a 42-26 advantage.

"Our shot selection was so much better tonight," Garner said. "For us to be a good team, we can't shoot the ball quick. We have to have patience."

The Bears made several mini-runs in the second half, including scoring the first four points to pull within 42-30. But Griffin answered with a personal 7-0 run to make it 49-30.

SMS got within 12 points one more time, at 54-42 with 11:26 remaining. But the Bears could get no closer as Southeast stretched its lead out to 19 points four more times in coasting to victory.

"I believe that's the worst effort that I've had a basketball team give since I've been at SMS," Bears coach Barry Hinson said. "We were totally outplayed in every facet of the game. SEMO's players were ready."

Southeast shot just 26.9 percent in the second half and finished the game at 46.2 percent (24 of 52). SMS shot 47.1 percent (24 of 51).

The Indians were 8-of-12 on 3-point shots.

Monwell Randle led the Bears with 14 points but McGee, who was averaging 17 points, had just 10 on 4-for-11 shooting.

"We really concentrated this week in practice on McGee," Garner said. "Brett and Demetrius did a great job on him."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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