COURT SESSION: INDIANS REVEL IN THREE-GAME VICTORY STREAK

We've just completed a great five days of basketball with three wins, including a very big road win at Austin Peay.

We have a quote of the day for our basketball team each day and today's quote will be: "Isn't it wonderful what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit." That really sums up our team right now.

Our players are playing hard and unselfish and good things are happening. It also helps that we have hit 42 of 82 from 3-point range in our last three games. It is really unbelievable how well we have been shooting, but unselfish play, great assists and great shooting make it possible.

The five-day stretch began last Thursday before another great crowd at the Show Me Center. We had 13 threes and easily beat Morehead State 99-79.

I was required to attend the NCAA Infractions Committee meeting in Florida on Saturday and was afraid I would miss the first game in my coaching career.

The chairman of the committee knew I had a game and told me I could leave in time to catch an afternoon plane into St. Louis. Coach Keno Davis picked me up at the airport and we arrived at the Show Me Center at about 6:30 p.m.

I'm really glad I had the opportunity to attend at least a portion of the meeting. It was a great learning experience but, believe me, I was happy to arrive back at the Show Me Center before game time.

There was a concern that our team wouldn't be ready to go against Eastern Kentucky, but when we came out and hit our first six threes, that concern was gone. We were 11 for 20 from three in the first half and ended the game 15 for 30 for a new Southeast and Show Me Center record for threes in a game.

The atmosphere at the Show Me Center was electric Saturday night. Our fans really got into the game and it was a big-time basketball atmosphere. I am really happy that we again had a big student turnout. Student excitement and energy really create the type of atmosphere we want at the Show Me Center.

We had sizzled the Show Me Center nets for 28 threes in the two games but then had to go on the road against a very good Austin Peay team that had beaten Murray State recently.

Before the game, one of my assistants said he had never seen our team more focused. Sometimes it's hard to read a team before a game, but he was certainly right.

We had a total team effort and held a narrow two-point halftime lead. We came out in the second half and played our best half of basketball this season. We shot 69 percent in the second half and ended the game with a Dunn Center opponent record of 14 3-pointers.

We outrebounded the more athletic Austin Peay team and came away with an 81-57 win Monday night. It was only the second Austin Peay home loss in their last 20 games.

Cory Johnson has just been sensational with his shooting, but the unselfish play of our other players is helping him get the open shots he needs.

Kahn Cotton had a tremendous game. He created shots for other people, hit his shots and did an outstanding job in shutting down their top 3-point shooter, Joe Sibbitt.

Calvert White hasn't been putting up big scoring numbers, but in the three wins he had 21 assists and 19 rebounds.

Nathan Owen has given us a lift since Demetrius Watson's injury. Nathan helps start our break and he has been hitting the three.

David Montgomery had really found his stride at the post position. He is averaging 18 points per game over the last three games and had a career-high 11 rebounds at Austin Peay. When we're hitting the three, it opens David up and he has delivered.

Lakeo Keller, Matt Morris, Dewayne Saulsberry and Travis Smith have been giving us some great minutes off the bench.

Isn't it wonderful what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit.

Now we have the challenge of two more games on the road this week. We play at Tennessee Tech Thursday night and at league-leading Middle Tennessee Saturday afternoon.

It is important that we have the same kind of effort and mental approach that we had in the Austin Peay game. Tech is fighting to get into the OVC Tournament and they will be tough at home.

Gary Garner is the head men's basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State University