Team Members
Front Row (L-R): Michael Stokes, Fred Abraham, Mike Branson, Roderick Johnson, Brian Bunche, Antonio Short,
Amory Sanders
Back Row (L-R): Matt Morris, Tim Scheer, Drew DeMond, Nyah Jones, Damarcus Hence, Emmanuel McCuthison,
Ryan Thomas
Not Pictured: Head Coach Gary Garner, Assistant Coach Tom Schuberth, Assistant Coach Keno Davis, Assistant Coach
Anthony Bean
1999-2000 Men's Basketball Team - OVC Champions, NCAA Divison I Tournament
A regular-season share of the Ohio Valley Conference title, the OVC postseason championship and the school’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Division I Tournament were all achieved by the 1999-2000 Southeast Missouri men's basketball team. The magical run that ended in a near-upset of then-No. 10 Lousiana State in the first round of the NCAA Regional (Salt Lake City, Utah) brought unprecedented national and international attention to Southeast. Few thought the Indians had a chance against the tall and powerful Tigers of LSU, who had tied for the Southeastern Conference championship. However, Southeast head coach Gary Garner and his players had other things in mind. The Indians struggled to get anything going offensively in the first half, but trailed only 24-19 at the intermission. Southeast then came out strong in the second half and nearly pulled off an upset. The Indians led, 61-58, with 2:39 left to play, but the Tigers rallied to knock down two-straight 3-pointers, including one in the last 18 seconds to go up, 64-61. Roderick Johnson threw up a desperation 3-pointer the bounced off the back of the rim at the buzzer and LSU held on for the win. The tournament may have been over for Southeast, but the team, its fans and the University benefitted from a trip to the Big Dance. The team went 24-7 overall and its 24 wins still rank as the most in a season during Southeast's NCAA Division I era.
