GOVS VETO TRIBE'S OVC TOURNEY PLANS; AUSTIN PEAY ENDS SE's SEASON WITH 76-46 SHELLACKING

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Some days you wonder why you even got out of bed in the morning.

That's the way Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians must have felt Tuesday.

The Indians hit the road for Clarksville, Tenn., early in the afternoon full of energy and optimism. They were looking forward to a first-round Ohio Valley Conference Tournament game against a team they had already beaten twice during the regular season.

But once the contest started, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that this night would belong solely to Austin Peay's Governors.

In a stunning turnaround from the two regular-season meetings between the squads, the Govs took control from the start and never let up as they blistered the Indians 76-46 in front of 3,000 fans at Dave Aaron Arena.

The victory vaults the fourth-seeded Govs (17-10) into Saturday's OVC tourney semifinals against top-seeded and league champion Murray State. That game will be played at the Nashville Arena.

For the fifth-seeded Indians, their first year under coach Gary Garner ends with a 14-13 record, only the school's second winning record in seven Division I seasons.

"You have to give Austin Peay a lot of credit. It was really their night tonight," said Garner. "They really played well and they shot the ball so well.

"I'm disappointed with the loss, but I'm proud of our guys. We played hard, but just not really smart."

While the Indians struggled most of the night, the Govs seemingly could do no wrong.

"We played very well," said Austin Peay coach Dave Loos. "They gave us a serious whipping last time and I think that was a lot of motivation for us."

Southeast's earlier wins over Austin Peay had come by scores of 73-61 in Cape Girardeau and 81-57 in Clarksville. No way did Garner expect another lopsided victory over one of the more physically talented teams in the OVC.

But, by the same token, no way did he expect a blowout win for the Govs.

"I really thought this would be a close basketball game one way or the other," Garner said. "I don't think Austin Peay did anything different tonight, they just did everything so much better.

"They just did a really good job preparing for us. They just really used their athletic ability tonight. They're a very talented team and they played a great game. If they play like they did tonight, they've got a shot to beat Murray State."

In Southeast's 24-point win in Clarksville less than a month ago, the Indians hit 14 3-point baskets and blitzed the Govs with some sizzling overall shooting, including 69 percent in the second half.

But Tuesday the Indians hit only three of 21 3-pointers and shot just 27 percent overall for the game (17 of 64).

Meanwhile, Austin Peay hit nine 3-pointers, including a sizzling eight of 14 in the first half. The Govs shot 47 percent for the game (30 of 64).

"We didn't shoot well, but even if we had shot well, this would have been a tough game to win, the way Austin Peay played," said Garner."

David Montgomery was Southeast's only double-figure scorer as he had 13 points, 11 coming in the first half. Calvert White and Kahn Cotton both had nine points.

Austin Peay got 22 points from Jerome Jackson, 16 from Reggie Crenshaw, 13 from freshman James Stewart and 11 off the bench from Willie Ivory.

Tuesday's game was never really a contest. The Govs jumped to early leads of 4-0 and 6-2 and, even though the Indians regrouped briefly, it didn't take long for Austin Peay to assume command.

Southeast, cheered on by more than 100 fans -- including the school's Sundancers spirit group -- who made the three-hour drive from Cape Girardeau, took its only lead of the night on White's basket that made it 7-6 barely three minutes into the contest.

But Stewart hit a jumper and a 3-pointer to put the Govs up 11-7 and Crenshaw's trey made it 14-7.

Stewart's two free throws with just under nine minutes left in the opening half built the Govs' lead to 25-15.

Ivory and Joe Sibbitt both drained 3-pointers to put the Govs ahead 31-15 and later in the half another Sibbitt trey made it 42-20.

To add insult to injury, Garner was hit with a technical foul at the end of the first half as he argued with the officials after Cotton's 3-pointer was ruled to have come just after the buzzer.

Austin Peay carried a 44-24 lead into the locker room, then quickly added to that before the second-half clock even started when Sibbitt hit both free throws on the Garner technical.

The Govs scored four more points to go ahead 50-24 before the Indians could get on the board but by that time the outcome had all but been decided.

Austin Peay built a 65-29 lead before settling for the 30-point victory.

Despite the lopsided setback, Garner said his players should take pride in what they accomplished during their first season under a new coaching staff.

"This loss, and the way we lost, getting dominated in every aspect, naturally leaves a sour taste for a while," he said. "But when you have time to reflect, and consider all the adversity we had, there will be a lot of fond memories.

"I'm really proud of the guys. When it's all said and done, this group came close to reaching its potential. With all the injuries and close losses, they hung together and kept fighting."

Added Garner, "I like the foundation this group of young men has laid. They said we're going to play hard and together and that's the kind of foundation you want to lay."