Tulane proves too much for SE

Powerful Green Wave washes away Indians 81-60.

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

NEW ORLEANS -- It was apparent from the outset Sunday that Southeast Missouri State University didn't have nearly the athletes to keep up with a strong and quick Tulane squad.

And that physical domination also showed up clearly in the final score as the host Green Wave rolled past the Indians 81-60 in the third-place game of the six-team University Hoops Classic.

Southeast, after being so impressive during its first tournament game -- a 14-point rout of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Thursday -- faltered in its final two contests, including Friday's 13-point loss to Indiana State.

But while fatigue might have had something to do with the Indians' showing against Indiana State, the athletic Green Wave were totally responsible for Sunday's Southeast performance.

"They are really a talented basketball team, with very good athletes," Southeast coach Gary Garner said. "But I didn't think we played very well defensively or offensively. We started the game kind of sluggish, let them get out to a good lead and never really got into the game."

The Indians, who fell to 2-3 on the season, scored the game's first basket as Brett Hale drained a 3-point shot 43 seconds into the contest. But Southeast never came close to smelling the lead again.

Tulane stunned the Indians with a 10-0 run and the Green Wave hit 14 of their first 17 shots from the field, largely due to their inside dominance that allowed them to get easy baskets from in close virtually at will.

The Green Wave gradually built a 28-13 lead and the margin never dipped under 10 points the rest of the half. Tulane led 39-24 at the intermission, thanks in large part to 72-percent shooting (18 of 25). Southeast shot just 35.7 percent (10 of 28) over the opening 20 minutes.

"They shot the ball really well in the first half, and they got so many easy baskets," Garner said. "And we didn't run our offense nearly well enough. We didn't take our time. Their athletes made it hard for us to get into our offense, but it shouldn't have."

After Tulane got the first basket of the second half to lead 41-24, Southeast showed some signs of life with a 7-0 run that cut the deficit to 41-31. The Indians also pulled to within 10 points at 43-33, but Tulane scored the next six points to lead 49-33 and effectively end any hopes Southeast had of a major comeback.

Tulane, which led by as many as 26 points, cooled off a bit with its shooting in the second half but still wound up at 64.2 percent for the game on 34 of 53. Southeast picked up its shooting in the final period and ended at 43.6 percent on 24 of 55. The Indians shot 51.9 percent in the second half.

"They had a really good team, but we should have played a lot better," Southeast senior forward Tim Scheer said. "We didn't play that good, but I'm sure they had a lot to do with it. They had some really good athletes."

Scheer finished up a strong tournament by scoring 14 points, giving him 55 points in the three games.

Junior center Brandon Griffin had 15 points and eight rebounds as he wound up with 36 points and 33 rebounds in a strong tournament performance. Griffin was the lone Indian on the all-tourney team.

Sophomore guard Derek Winans led the Indians with 16 points. He finished the tournament with 43 points.

For Tulane (3-2), which won two of its three tournament games, muscular 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward Brandon Brown powered his way to 21 points on 9-for-10 shooting. Ivan Pjevcevic, a 6-11 center, added 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range.

"They've got a good team, but we should have given them a better game," Griffin said.

After starting the tournament so well, things fizzled for the Indians, but they realize it's a long season and they can't allow themselves to get down.

"We've just got to bounce back from this," Scheer said. "It would have been nice to do better in the tournament, but we've still got confidence in ourselves."

The Indians will have a chance to bounce back Wednesday when Division II Oakland City visits the Show Me Center in a game that should serve as a tuneup for Saturday's home contest with powerhouse Southern Illinois.