Southeast puts on defensive display to open

While the estimated 1,225 fans attending Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball exhibition opener are not likely to confuse NAIA school Harris-Stowe with quality teams that litter Southeast's schedule like Southern Illinois and Murray State, Southeast's 90-40 victory was impressive none the less.

Southeast's defense, an area the team is putting a great deal of emphasis on this season, performed well against the lesser opponent. Harris-Stowe shot just 25 percent from the field and did not have one player shoot better than 42 percent.

"That's what we're concentrating on. Defense, defense, that's what coach preaches," Southeast senior forward Reggie Golson said.

With the starting five of Terrick Willoughby, Golson, Dainmon Gonner, Waylon Francis and Brett Hale on the court, Harris-Stowe managed just 22 points in 22 minutes. Southeast's reserves performed equally well, allowing an average of just one point per minute.

Harris-Stowe scored just 17 points in the second half, including an eight-minute stretch where the Southeast reserves held Harris-Stowe to five points.

"Usually, in a game like this there are more points scored in the second half," Southeast coach Gary Garner said.

On the offensive end Southeast shot 54 percent from the field and had four players reach double figures.

Gonner led Southeast with 21 points, Golson had 16, Willoughby scored 10 and Ketshner Guerrier scored 18 off the bench.

Gonner led with 13 rebounds.

"In the locker room, we said we were going to play as a team," Golson said.

Added Gonner: "We don't have any egos. We're just going to play together and play hard."

Guerrier had a strong game for Southeast in the post with 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting in just 12 minutes. Francis and Guerrier, Southeast's two centers, combined for 21 points and 14 rebounds.

"There's a lot of competition between Waylon and me," Guerrier said. "He plays hard, I play hard."

Southeast's next exhibition game will be Saturday against Harding University at the Show Me Center.

Southeast opens the regular season Nov. 19 at Bradley.