Feb. 19, 2004

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Despite jumping out to a quick start and early lead, Southeast Missouri State (10-14, 3-10 OVC) fell to Eastern Kentucky 85-81 Thursday night. The loss to the Colonels (12-12, 7-6 OVC) is the fourth defeat in a row for Southeast.

Junior guard Derek Winans helped Southeast jump ahead at the outset of the game, as he had 18 first-half points, in just 14 minutes of play. Southeast took a 46-39 advantage into the half after leading by as many as 15. The Indians shot a brilliant 65.4 percent from the field in the first half, including 62.5 from beyond the arc.

To open the second half, EKU scored 10 of the first 12 points to take a brief one-point advantage. The teams would exchange leads 10 more times before EKU's Jon Bentley scored a layup with 34 seconds left to give the Colonels a 81-79 advantage.

After a pair of free throws by Matt Witt, Terrick Willoughby scored for Southeast to cut the EKU lead to 83-81. But a pair of free throws by Eastern's Ben Rushing iced the game and gave the Colonels a 85-81 win.

Derek Winans led all scorers with 28 points in the game, to up his season average to 14.6 points per game. The junior guard was 9-of-12 from the field including a perfect 5-for-5 from three. and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Reggie Golson had 14 points and a game-high 10 boards filling in for injured senior Brandon Griffin. Juniors Dainmon Gonner and Norman Prather had 13 and 10 points, respectively.

For Eastern Kentucky, Witt led the way with 25 points, including 5-of-11 from long range. Ben Rushing had 23 for the Colonels on 7-of-14 from beyond the arc. Bentley finished with 16 points and eight boards. Michael Haney led EKU with nine rebounds.

For the game, Southeast shot 56 percent from the field, including 58.3 percent from three. The Indians also hit 81.8 percent from the free throw line on 18-of-22. Eastern Kentucky shot 53.4 percent from the field and hit 75 percent from the free thrown line. EKU edged Southeast on the boards 27 to 26.

Southeast will play its final home game of the year Saturday against Morehead State at 7:30 p.m. at the Show Me Center.