March 1, 2003

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Brett Hale scored 33 points Saturday night as Southeast Missouri beat Tennessee State 89-82.

Southeast Missouri (11-18, 5-11 Ohio Valley Conference) took a 6-4 lead early and never trailed. The Indians forced 13 first-half turnovers resulting in 19 points.

Tennessee State (2-24, 0-16) trailed by as many as 29 early in the second half. The Tigers chipped away at the lead and scored six points in 20 seconds to cut it to 81-77 with about a minute to go.

Brandon Griffin and Demarcus Hence each scored 16 points for Southeast Missouri, while Derek Winans added 15.

Roshaun Bowens scored 24 points to lead five Tigers in double figures. Josh Cooperwood scored 14, Arvid Caldwell added 11, and Willie Hendricks and Thaddeus Jones each had 10.

The loss ends Tennessee State's season since the last-place team in the Ohio Valley Conference is excluded from the league tournament.