Edgar's home debut on tap

Southeast Missouri State will try to build on its first win under Scott Edgar when the Redhawks begin their home schedule tonight.

After losing their first three games -- all by at least 27 points -- the Redhawks bounced back Sunday to beat Division II Alaska-Fairbanks 69-66.

That marked the Redhawks' final game in the Top of the World Classic in Alaska, after they had lost by 27 points to Drake and by 32 points to Centenary.

Tonight, the Redhawks (1-3) welcome the University of California-Riverside (3-3) to the Show Me Center for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.

The matchup is a return game from last year's Bracket Buster, when host UCR beat Southeast 69-61.

"It seems like forever since we've been in the Show Me Center," said Edgar, Southeast's first-year head coach whose squad hosted exhibition games on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3. "Hopefully we can have a great crowd.

"It's an opportunity to come home with momentum. If I was going to go 1-2 [in the Top of the World Classic], I'd rather win the last game."

Edgar hopes the Redhawks can duplicate their second-half performance against Alaska-Fairbanks, when they outscored the Nanooks 39-27 to erase a nine-point halftime deficit.

After struggling offensively in their first three games and during the opening period Sunday, the Redhawks finally found the groove. They shot 57.7 percent in the second half to finish at a season-best 46.4 percent.

"I do feel that's encouraging," Edgar said. "We got the ball down the floor in the second half."

For the year, the Redhawks are shooting just 34.2 percent from the field, 26.7 percent from 3-point range and 54.2 from the free-throw line. Southeast is averaging only 55.8 points and has been outscored by an average of 24 points.

In addition, the Redhawks are averaging 21 turnovers per game and have been outrebounded by more than eight a contest.

Junior forward Brandon Foust, a transfer from Oklahoma, is the Redhawks' only player averaging in double figures so far at 10.5 points per game. Foust also leads Southeast in rebounding with five a contest.

Like Southeast -- which went 7-20 last year -- UCR is coming off a struggling season that saw the Highlanders go 5-23 and finish last in the Big West Conference.

The Highlanders also have been picked to finish at the bottom of the eight-team Big West Conference this year. They are off to an improved start, although their only Division I win was a 64-55 decision over Eastern Illinois on a neutral court in Ames, Iowa.

UCR, which played respectably in a 69-61 loss at Iowa State, is coming off Tuesday's 79-45 setback at highly regarded San Diego State.

The Highlanders have been led by senior point guard Justin Bell, who missed all of last season with an injury. He is averaging 13 points per game and is also the Highlanders' top 3-point threat so far at 35 percent (17 of 48).

Junior guard Larry Cunningham, one of two returning starters, is averaging 11.8 points per game, after ranking second on last year's team at 10.8. He is also UCR's top rebounder with a 7.5 average.

"I watched the tape of when they beat Eastern Illinois. They have more size than us and they are very aggressive on defense," Edgar said. "We're going to have to take care of the ball."

UCR still is without its head coach, after David Spencer requested and was granted a medical leave of absence prior to the season.

Associate head coach Vonn Webb is serving as interim head coach during Spencer's absence.

After tonight's game, the Redhawks hit the road again for a Monday night contest at Evansville of the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Redhawks then return home for two straight games, Wednesday against Indiana/Purdue-Fort Wayne and Dec. 2 against Tennessee-Martin in their Ohio Valley Conference opener.

"Everything we're doing now is to help prepare us for the OVC schedule," Edgar said. "It's not very far off."