The Tennessee Tech men’s basketball team came close to earning its third NCAA Tournament bid and first since 1963, before losing to Southeast Missouri 89-82 in overtime Saturday night in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
The No. 2 seeded Golden Eagles, in the championship for the first time since 2011, rallied after trailing by eight points early in the second half to take the lead at 73-72 with 10 seconds remaining in regulation on a 3-pointer by Brett Thompson.
After No. 5 SEMO retook the lead at 75-73 on three free throws by Chris Harris, Tech’s Diante Wood tied it up at 75-all on a shot at the buzzer.
The Golden Eagles (16-17) went up 80-76 in overtime, but the SEMO (19-16) defense prevented the Golden Eagles from making a field goal in the final 2:36. Guard Phillip Russell secured the win for the Redhawks by scoring a layup with 1:17 left and then sinking five free throws in the final 35 seconds.
Wood, who fouled out, led Tech with 24 points and Thompson added 18. Harris, the tournament’s most valuable player, scored 26 points for SEMO and Russell had 21.
Jaylen Sebree joined Wood on the all-tournament team.
SEMO became the first No. 5 seed to win the tournament and earn the automatic NCAA Tournament bid in 18 years. Austin Peay was the last to do that in 2005.
The Redhawks defeated Lindenood, 84-65, Tennessee State, 91-83 and top-seeded Morehead State, 65-58 to advance to the championship.
The Golden Eagles received a double-bye into the semifinals where they knocked off UT Martin 78-63.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.
