Box Score

Cape Girardeau, Mo. (December 21, 2002) - The Southeast Missouri State Indians basketball team, behind a ruckus crowd of nearly 5,000 people at the Show Me Center, defeated its in-state rival Southwest Missouri State 70-53, tonight. The win moves the Indians record to even at 5-5 and SMS moves to 3-5 on the season.

The Indians scored the game's first 13 points behind superb shooting from juniors Tim Scheer and Demarcus Hence, as well as deadly three-point accuracy from sophomore Derek Winans. Southeast never relinquished the lead in the first half as they moved the deficit to 16 at the break, 42-16.

The Indians shot 65 percent from the field in the first half and a blistering 71 percent from behind the arc. They were led by Winans who had 13 points and Hence with nine.

The second half was much of the same story as what was a 16 point lead jumped to 19 at four points in the half. The Indians eventually won the game by 17, 70-53.

The Indians were led by a strong performance from Winans with 17 points. He was 5-7 from the field and 3-5 from behind the arc, while going a perfect 4-4 from the line. Hence had 16 points and four rebounds as Hale and junior forward Brandon Griffin chipped in with 15 points of their own. Griffin added 12 boards for a double-double.

Southeast, as a team, shot 47 percent in the game from the field and 67 percent from behind the arc. They made 14-17 free-throws for an 82 percent mark.

The Indians now have a few days off for the Christmas holiday, before traveling to Omaha, Nebraska on December 29 to take on the Blue Jays of Creighton. Creighton is currently ranked 19th and 20th in the coaches and AP poll, respectively, while holding down the 10th spot in the RPI rankings. Tip off is slated for 2 p.m.