Indians post win No. 1

It was only a win over an NAIA school, but for a team intent on not repeating last year's struggles, it was an important victory nonetheless.

Southeast Missouri State University's workmanlike 82-63 triumph over Central Methodist College in front of 2,863 fans at the Show Me Center Monday night evened the Indians' record at 1-1.

Considering they started out 0-5 last season, the Indians were relieved.

"Any win helps your confidence, I don't care who you play," Southeast coach Gary Garner said.

Said sophomore guard Derek Winans, who scored a game-high 20 points, dished out six assists and had four steals, "After the Arkansas State game, we talked about how important this was for our confidence. We needed a win and we got it."

And the Indians got it in fairly routine fashion, jumping on the Eagles almost from the outset and never really being threatened the entire night.

The Eagles, from Fayette, Mo., entered the game with a 5-0 record and a No. 17 national ranking in NAIA Division II. But they were outclassed athletically -- as coach Jeff Sherman thought might happen.

"It probably played out the way I thought it would," Sherman said. "We found out what it is to have people guard you who are as big as you and quicker than you. SEMO got out and defended, and it's just not our level."

The first few minutes of the contest gave an indication that the Eagles might be able to hang with the Indians as 6-foot-11 center Justin Cornell hit his first four shots, giving CMC an early 8-6 lead.

Seizing control early

But Southeast took control with a 12-0 run and coasted the rest of the way. The Indians led 49-31 at halftime, opened up a 60-35 advantage early in the second half and never let the margin dip under 18 points thereafter.

"I thought we played real good in the first half. We lost some intensity in the second half," Winans said. "But the main thing is we got the win."

Said Garner, "We played all right in the first half. We just ran up and down in the second half. The game was never in doubt, but we didn't really have a killer instinct.

"But one thing I liked about it, after it was 8-8, our defense got after it."

Junior center Brandon Griffin, who was saddled with early foul trouble against Arkansas State, had no such problems Monday as the junior-college transfer scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Griffin hit nine of 13 shots from the field.

"Coach said he needed me to stay in the game, not get into foul trouble," Griffin said.

Sophomore guard Brett Hale added 14 points and five assists. Junior forward Damarcus Hence scored 10 points and tied Griffin for team-high rebounding honors with eight.

Sophomore center Adam Crader hit all three of his field-goal attempts as he scored six points off the bench. Senior guard Demetrius King also had six points off the bench and he pulled down six rebounds. Sophomore guard Kevin Roberts contributed three assists and three steals.

Senior forward Tim Scheer saw his first action of the season after missing Friday's opener with a strained calf muscle. Scheer played 13 minutes and scored four points.

"It was good to get Tim some work," Garner said.

Steve McGee paced the Eagles with 19 points and Cornell had 17 as he hit seven of 10 shots while displaying some impressive post moves.

Now the Indians will prepare to hit the road for the six-team Tulane University Hoops Classic in New Orleans. They will play Wisconsin-Milwaukee Thursday, Indiana State Friday and then either Tulane, Central Florida or Maine Sunday.

"We're looking forward to going into the tournament with some confidence and doing well," Winans said.