COLLEGE BASKETBALL: INDIANS TREATED TO A STEADY SURPRISE

Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner expected Emmanuel McCuthison to have a solid senior season.

But Garner admits that he didn't envision McCuthison playing as well as he has been over the first five games of the campaign. The 6-foot-4 swingman has used steady, consistent play to lead the Indians in scoring at 15.2 points per contest. He has been in double figures in every game so far.

"Emmanual is really playing well," said Garner at his weekly media conference Monday. "I'm surprised. I'm pleasantly surprised.

"Not that he wasn't going to be a good player, but would any of you have picked him to be our leading scorer after five games while shooting a good percentage? And his turnovers are low."

McCuthison had a strong performance at the eight-team Energia Systems Thanksgiving Tournament held Friday through Sunday in Kansas City.

In helping lead the Indians to two wins in three games and the consolation title (fifth place), McCuthison averaged 15.3 points while shooting 61 percent from the field, 50 percent from 3-point range and 83 percent from the free-throw line. He was named to the six-player all-tournament team.

McCuthison, a native of Chattanooga, Tenn., came to Southeast last season from Lincoln Trail Community College in Illinois. He was not heavily recruited by Division I teams, but became a key role player off the bench for the Indians, averaging five points while playing in all 31 games.

But McCuthison, extremely quick and rail-thin, has kicked his performance level up several notches so far this season. He is shooting 56 percent from the floor, 46 percent on 3-pointers and 83 percent from the line. In addition to leading the team in scoring, he is third in rebounding (4.2 per game), second in steals (nine), tied for second in blocks (three) and tied for third in assists (six) while committing just eight turnovers.

Still, despite how well McCuthison has been playing, Garner admits that he sometimes can't even stand to look when McCuthison launches one of his patented 3-pointers from well behind the arc.

"I cringe," said a laughing Garner. "But as long as they go in."

They've gone in quite a bit so far this year, which is why McCuthison is setting the Indians' offensive pace to date.

* Two other Indians are averaging in double figures through five games: senior guards Antonio Short (10.3 ppg) and Amory Sanders (10.2 ppg).

Sanders, who started the first game of the season while Short was finishing up his suspension, has over the last two games provided a big lift off the bench. He's shooting 59-percent from 3-point range (13 of 22) and is second on the squad in assists with 12.

The third member of Southeast's strong senior backcourt trio, point guard Michael Stokes, is just off double figures (9.4 ppg). He's also the team's second-leading rebounder (4.6) and is first in assists (4.2).

Junior center Terry Rogers, who backs up starter Nyah Jones, is the Indians' leading rebounder (6.0) and he's fifth in scoring (6.8 ppg) while shooting 59 percent from the floor.

* The numbers might not show it yet, but Garner likes the way juco transfer Monte Gordon is starting to come around after missing all kinds of early practice time with a variety of ailments.

Gordon grabbed two huge offensive rebounds late during Sunday's 72-71 win over Cleveland State that gave the Indians the consolation title in the Kansas City tourney.

"Monte missed so much (practice) time and that really makes it hard for a new player," Garner said. "But he keeps getting better. He played well (in the tournament)."

Gordon, averaging 4.4 points in spot duty, has hit all three of his 3-point attempts.

* In assessing his 4-1 team through the very early part of the season, Garner sees two major flaws along with continued strong defense, which has been Southeast's staple since Garner took over the program.

The weaknesses right now, said Garner, are rebounding and fouling. The Indians are being outrebounded by nearly three per game and they have committed 12 more fouls than their opponents, who have gone to the free-throw line 127 times compared to 88 for Southeast.

"Our two big, glaring areas are rebounding and fouls," he said. "One of my big things is not to foul. Good defensive teams don't foul like that. We are putting them on the line way too much."

On the other hand, opponents are shooting just under 39 percent from the field against the Indians, who are allowing only 61 points per game. Last year, Southeast ranked fifth nationally in field-goal percentage defense (38 percent) and 17th nationally in scoring defense (61.6 ppg).

"The strength of the team right now is on the defensive end," Garner said. "We're winning because of that."

* Southeast has its first true road game of the season Wednesday night, playing at Mississippi Valley State.

The Delta Devils are 1-2 after beating Drake 76-74 at home Saturday night. The losses were on the road, to Oregon 85-70 and Mississippi State 93-58.