COLLEGE BASKETBALL: HERALDED FRESHMAN GUARD GIVES INDIANS FITS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Heading into Friday's first-round game of the Energia Systems Thanksgiving Tournament against Toledo, Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball team figured to have a decided advantage at point guard.

That's because running the Southeast offense this season is senior Michael Stokes, rated by The Sporting News as the nation's 16th-best point guard among more than 300 NCAA Division I schools, while manning Toledo's ship is true freshman Terry Reynolds. But Reynolds is not just any collegiate rookie. The 5-foot-9, 20-year-old played high school basketball at national power Oak Hill Academy and, after graduating, spent last season at national prep school powerhouse Maine Central Institute.

So maybe it wasn't that surprising after all that Reynolds was arguably the best player on the court in his college debut as the Rockets disposed of the Indians 59-43. Reynolds scored 23 points, dished out five assists, grabbed five rebounds and had zero turnovers while playing 34 minutes. He hit seven of 12 shots from the field and eight of eight free throws.

"I just wanted to play hard and lead my team to victory," said Reynolds. "I just wanted to get everybody involved."

Reynolds acknowledged that playing in two big-time programs like Oak Hill Academy and Maine Central Institute -- which both annually turn out several of the nation's top college prospects -- has helped him prepare for the college game.

"I'm used to the environment and competition," Reynolds said. "And in practice, we push each other pretty hard."

Toledo coach Stan Joplin thought Reynolds would have a tough time against Stokes, who is arguably Southeast's best player. But Reynolds passed the test with flying colors.

"He (Reynolds) kept saying he could take the guy (Stokes). Once he did it in the second half, I thought he might be right," Joplin said.

Added Reynolds with a grin, "I was ready to play. I had a dream last night about basketball."

* Entering the season, Southeast coach Gary Garner was confident that senior center Nyah Jones would have a big season after flashing plenty of potential while coming off the bench last year.

But so far, the 6-11 Jones has struggled in all three of the Indians' regular-season games after shining in the two exhibition contests. And those struggles reached a zenith against Toledo when a shaky Jones was pulled from the contest early. He came back in briefly but then never saw the court again and did not play at all in the second half. In five minutes of action, Jones missed his only field-goal attempt, did not grab a rebound, committed one foul and had three turnovers.

Garner, while still hopeful that Jones will have a strong season, acknowledged that it's important to the Indians' potential success to get their tall center going.

"Nyah hasn't played well in the first three games," said Garner. "He needs to pick it up and hopefully he will."