INDIANS' MELTDOWN STOPS POPLAR BLUFF

JACKSON, Mo. -- The Indians caused just a little bit more snow to melt Friday night.

Jackson was hot from the free-throw line, hot from the three-point line -- hot from just about everywhere -- as Jackson defeated the visiting Poplar Bluff Mules 90-83 to improve to 7-4 overall and 1-0 in the SEMO Conference.

Most impressive was Jackson's free-throw shooting. The Indians made 37 of their 44 foul shots (84 percent), including 12 in a row in the final 1:48 to seal the game.

"We work on our free throws quite a bit," said Jackson coach Mike Kiehne. "We want to make sure that if they foul us, that we make them pay."

And pay Poplar Bluff did.

The game was more or less won at the foul stripe as the Indians made more than twice as many foul shots as Poplar Bluff took. The Mules, who trailed by as many as many as 10 and held a one-point lead midway through the third quarter, made 11 of their 15 attempts.

"What I was disappointed with is that we fouled them, they continued to call it and we didn't make the adjustments," said Poplar Bluff coach John David Patillo. "If you shoot 15 free throws and they shoot 44, that hurts."

Jackson shot 23 foul shots in the fourth quarter, making 19.

While the fourth quarter was choppy with a lot of stops in the action, the first three quarters were played at a near frantic pace. The Indians and Mules -- neither of which have a true center or much height -- matched up well as both teams got out on the break.

The transition game made for high-percentage shots and both teams shot at least 50 percent. Jackson shot 55 percent from the field (24-of-44) and hit five of its nine threes, also 55 percent.

The only down side to Jackson's game was its 17 turnovers.

"We're trying to make the game up tempo," said Kiehne. "And we're making a few mistakes. But as we play, we'll get used to the speed and our mistakes will reduce."

Kiehne was very pleased with the team's balance Friday night.

Six Indians scored in double figures.

Matt Ferrell led the way with 18 points, followed by Seth McDowell with 14, Lance Bollinger and Nate Brown with 13 and Brad Hilbert and Bryant Beussink with 11 apiece.

"People filled their roles tonight," Kiehne said. "Before the game I handed each player a slip of paper with four or five things I wanted them to do. For the most part I think everybody did at least one or two things that we asked them to do."

Though Jackson could never put Poplar Bluff away, the Indians were pretty much in control all night. The Indians had answers each time the Mules made a run.

The most crucial stretch of the game came midway through the third quarter. With 4:22 remaining, the Mules took a 53-52 lead, but Jackson responded with a 17-9 run to take a 69-61 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Jackson, which scored at least 20 points in every quarter, led 23-16 after the first quarter and 43-40 at halftime.

Tony Webb led all scorers with 26 points for Poplar Bluff. Brent Little added 15, while Ed McComb added 12.