Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. (December 9, 2000) - Sophomore guard Leigh Gayden scored 16 points, including two clutch free throws with nine seconds remaining, as the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles defeated Southeast Missouri State 70-68 Saturday night at the Show Me Center in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both squads.

If the game was an indication of what is to come in the OVC this season, the league should be very exciting and competitive. The game, which featured the third and fourth ranked teams in the presason poll, saw 20 lead changes and 10 ties as both teams struggled to take control. The biggest lead by either team was six by Tennessee Tech early in the second half.

Southeast (5-3, 0-1 OVC) led early on but Tennessee Tech (3-4, 1-0) managed to take the lead halfway through the first frame and lead 39-35 at the half. After building its biggest lead of the night with 18:38 to play, Southeast fought back. An Amory Sanders pointer with 4:30 remaining gave Southeast its last lead at 61-59.

With the game tied at 63, Tech got baskets by preseason All-OVC selection Larrie Smith and DeAntoine Beasley. Then Gayden, a 88% free throw shooter drained two big free throws to push the lead to four. An Emmanuel McCuthison three with only four seconds left cut the lead to one but after Joey Westmoreland hit one of two free throws with two seconds left, Southeast could only manage a desperation heave at the buzzer.

Southeast was lead in scoring by Michael Stokes with 16. Other scorers in double figures included McCuthison with 14 and Antonio Short with 13.

Tennessee Tech was lead by Gayden's 16. Westmoreland added 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Smith and Beasley had 13 and 11 respectively.

Both teams struggled from the field. Southeast hit 40% from the field and only 30% from three. McCuthison, who entered the game shooting 48% from behind the arc, connected on only 2-8 from three. Tech shot 42% from the field and 33% from three.