Feb. 18, 2003

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) - Brandon Griffin scored 21 points, including Southeast Missouri's only four points during the final eight minutes, as the Indians held off Western Illinois 53-52 on Tuesday night.

Southeast Missouri (10-16 overall) led all but 49 seconds of the game but needed two free throws from Griffin with 6.5 seconds left.

Derek Winans had 12 points and Damarcus Hence 10 for Southeast. Griffin, who went 8-of-10 from the field and converted all five of his free-throw attempts, had a game-high 10 rebounds.

Ray Harris had 15 points and Luis Rivas 13 for Western Illinois (7-16). Harris' 3-pointer with 55 seconds to go gave the visiting Leathernecks their only lead of the game.

The Indians shot 52 percent from the field in the first half but were held to just 25 percent in the second half, failing to hit a field goal in the final 8:14 of the game.

Southeast Missouri, who had lost to Western Illinois 84-75 on Jan. 21, on Tuesday night jumped to leads of 12-5 and 17-9 en route to a 31-21 halftime margin.

Five quick points by Winans extended the Indians' lead to 36-23 with 18:11 to play, and Southeast later led by 14 points twice.

Ahead 49-37 with 8:14 left, the Indians were outscored 15-4 the rest of the way, getting all of their points on Griffin's free throws.