For almost ten minutes, UTM had no trouble with host Southeast Missouri State University. It was the last 30 minutes that hurt the Skyhawks and namely Brandon Griffin and Derek Winans. Turnovers also hurt.

Griffin and Winans combined for more than half of Southeast Missouri's points in an 89-78 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball win over visiting UTM Thursday night at the Show Me Center.

Winans scored 15 first-half points and finished the game with 28 points. Griffin tossed in 17 second-half points to finish with 21 points.

For the first 10 minutes of the game, Winans and Griffin never presented problems for the Skyhawks who enjoyed a 22-9 lead with 11:58 to play in the first half.

Midway through the half, Skyhawk sophomore Jared Newson missed a dunk and Winans went down and canned a three-pointer to give the Indians a five-point swing and the momentum.

"We let Southeast back in the game in the last three minutes of the first half," said Bret Campbell, the Skyhawks head coach. "We let them get their confidence back and I thought we were on the verge of putting them away."

The Indians tied the game at 35-all at the break and never trailed again. Griffin scored a bulk of his second-half points in the paint, and Winans played sharp shooter from three-point range.

The Skyhawks banked on 21 points from Newson and 20 points from Jeremy Kelly. Newson hit 11 of 12 free throws. The Skyhawks shot 50 percent from the field in the game and 76 percent from the free throw line. Turnovers proved costly.

"We keep talking about staying focused and we make 17 turnovers, 10 in the first half," Campbell said. "Those 10 turnovers resulted in automatic baskets on the other end. We are not good enough to turn the basketball over 17 times and win. I don't know who is."

With the loss the Skyhawks fall to 8-13 overall and 3-6 in the Ohio Valley Conference race.

The Skyhawks travel to Charleston, Ill., Saturday for an OVC game against host Eastern Illinios. Tipoff is set for 7:05 p.m.