Booker provided highlights for Southeast on big stage

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Roy Booker has never lacked for confidence. Southeast Missouri State's senior guard believes he is as good as many of the nation's premier players.

Wednesday night, the former Portageville High School star got to test his talents against one of America's top teams -- and he left Illinois suitably impressed.

"Roy Booker came out and played terrific for them," said All-American senior guard Dee Brown following the sixth-ranked Illini's 89-64 victory. "He hit a lot of shots early."

Said Illinois coach Bruce Weber: "Booker got going. ... He's a pretty good player."

On the major stage of Assembly Hall, in front of a sellout crowd of 16,618 fans, Booker scored 16-first half points and finished with a game-high 26.

"I'm hyped every game, but it makes me feel real good," Booker said of his performance. "You have to have a lot of confidence, no matter who you're playing against."

Booker, who entered the game as by far Southeast's leading scorer with a 20-point average, had 12 of the Redhawks first 16 points.

Booker hit five of 11 shots in the opening period, but made only three of nine in the second half as the Illini sent several defenders at him. He finished eight of 20, including three of 10 from 3-point range, and made seven of nine free throws.

"They were sending four guys at me," said a smiling Booker. "They even put Dee Brown on me. He's a great defender."

Said Southeast coach Gary Garner: "Roy had a really good offensive game. He's hard to guard."

Booker said he would have gladly given up his points for a victory, but he knew that beating the powerful Illini would be extremely difficult -- although he was still glad for the experience.

"It was definitely a good experience for me and the team, to play one of the better teams in the country," he said. "They're every bit as good as I thought they'd be."

Noteworthy

• Southeast showed some athleticism with nice dunks by junior forward Andrais Thornton and junior guard Terrick Willoughby, although Thornton missed a slam late in the game.

But Illinois definitely had the market cornered as far as athletic ability. The Illini probably had close to 10 dunks -- several of them rim-rattlers -- with many coming in the second half as they really got their running game going.

* Although virtually all of the crowd was pro-Illinois, Southeast did have about 25 or 30 fans in the stands, including university president Ken Dobbins and athletic director Don Kaverman.

Several of the Redhawks' supporters were family members of sophomore point guard Paul Paradoski and freshmen reserve guard Eric Jones, who are both St. Louis natives.