THE LATEST LINE: SE MAKES FANS TRUE BELIEVERS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- No matter what happens today, it's been a glorious season for Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians.

And a victory this afternoon in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship game would elevate the campaign yet another notch -- perhaps even to the absolutely unbelievable stage.

But the approximately 1,500 SEMO fans who made the Nashville Arena look and sound something like the Show Me Center South Saturday night certainly do believe.

They believe that by about 3:30 p.m. today, the Indians will begin making preliminary plans for their first-ever trip to the Big Dance.

That's the NCAA Tournament, Division I style, the hallowed land of March Madness, endless TV games and Dick Vitale's unparalleled enthusiasm.

In order to reach the promised land in only their eighth Division I season -- and in just their third year to even be eligible for an NCAA automatic bid -- the Indians will have to upend their major nemesis, Murray State.

The perennial OVC powerhouse Racers have beaten the Indians 14 straight times and they looked very much the part of tournament favorite Saturday by throttling Morehead State in the semifinals 91-69 despite falling behind 11-2 in the early going.

But the Indians took care of business themselves Saturday night, winning their semifinal 82-74 over Middle Tennessee to advance to the OVC Tournament championship game for the first time ever.

Which sets up quite a juicy -- and appropriate -- matchup today.

Murray State and SEMO were by far the class of the OVC during the regular season, the Racers going 16-2 to win the title and the Indians going 15-3 to finish a close second. No other league team went better than 9-9.

The Racers and Indians also have by far the most supportive fans in the conference. SEMO edged Murray State for the OVC attendance title this season, but Racers' followers turned out in full force at the Nashville Arena Saturday, with approximately 2,500 gold-clad fans cheering their team on.

And to add even more spice to the matchup, the teams hooked up in two thrilling games during the regular season. Murray State won both, but there wasn't a whole lot of difference between the squads in either matchup.

On Jan. 14 in Cape Girardeau, the Racers got a basket with less than one second left to beat the Indians 71-70.

Then on Feb. 11 in Murray, Ky., the Racers scored 11 points in a 47-second span early in the second half to break open what had been a dogfight and they prevailed 62-52.

Murray State has dominated the OVC over the past decade and the Racers have been fairly regular participants in the NCAA Tournament.

Today, the Indians get a chance to go for the first time to where the Racers have been many times before.

When coach Gary Garner took over the SEMO program two years ago, he said he didn't see why the Indians couldn't become perennial OVC contenders and regularly challenge for a berth in the NCAA tourney.

Today, the Indians have an opportunity to reach those heights much quicker than probably most people could have ever dreamed.

Unless, of course, you're one of those SEMO fans who truly does believe.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian