Defensive effort lifts Redhawks into OVC race

~ The Redhawks will try to extend their season-best four-game winning streak.

It's not hard to figure out what has made the big difference during Southeast Missouri State's season-best four-game winning streak.

At least not in coach B.J. Smith's eyes. Defense had definitely done the trick.

"The key to us not playing well was how we were not guarding," Smith said. "Now the key is the way we are guarding."

The Redhawks (10-7, 7-3 Ohio Valley Conference) will try to continue their defensive surge today when they begin a two-game homestand by facing Morehead State (10-6, 5-4) in a 5 p.m. tipoff.

"We're playing well now, but we can't be satisfied, because we want to keep it going," Smith said. "We have to anticipate every game being tough, and that's what we're looking for from Morehead State."

In the last four games, the Redhawks have allowed an average of 49.3 points, which has dropped their season average to 67.8, after that mark was well above 70 points for much of the campaign.

"Defense has been the key for us," Southeast senior forward Simone Jackson said. "We weren't playing good defense early in the season, but now we're playing the way coach B.J. wants us to, and we need to keep it going."

Southeast has really taken its defense to another level in the past week.

During Thursday's 78-35 romp at Tennessee State, the Redhawks allowed their fewest points since moving up to Division I in 1991-92.

Then, during Saturday's 53-46 win at first-place Tennessee Tech, the Redhawks limited the explosive Eaglettes to more than 25 points below their season average.

"Defensively, that was our best game, against a very good offensive team," Smith said.

The victory put the Redhawks right back in the thick of the OVC race, as they trail co-leaders Tennessee Tech and Samford by just one game. Southeast is third in the 11-team OVC, with 10 conference contests remaining.

"There is still a long way to go, but at least now we've given ourselves a legitimate chance [at winning the regular-season title]," Smith said. "But we've still got our work cut out for us."

While Southeast is finally playing the way it was expected to after putting together the program's best Division I season last year, Morehead State has been one of the OVC's surprise teams.

The Eagles went 5-22 overall last year and tied for last in the OVC at 3-13. They were picked ninth in this year's conference preseason poll.

But the Eagles, under first-year coach Matthew Mitchell -- an assistant at Kentucky the past two seasons -- have played much better than predicted so far.

Morehead State is in a fifth-place OVC tie, and has already doubled its overall win total from last year, although the Eagles have lost two straight games, both at home.

"They've really improved," Smith said.

The Eagles rank second in the OVC in scoring defense, allowing 61.1 points per game. They are also second in field-goal percentage defense at 39.4.

Offensively, the Eagles have been particularly dangerous from long range. They have the OVC's second-most 3-point baskets (113), and also are No. 2 in 3-point percentage (37.8).

Southeast continues to lead the league in scoring at 73.5 points per game, and the Redhawks are second in field-goal percentage (44.3).

Today's game will feature the top two rebounding teams in the OVC based on margin, Morehead State at plus-6.0 per game and Southeast at plus 5.2.

Morehead State is led by 6-foot-3 senior center LaKrisha Brown, who is averaging a double-double with 15.2 points and 10.6 rebounds.