ELEY WILL LIKELY SEE ACTION

All indications are that tonight will mark the return to action for Southeast Missouri State University basketball standout Bud Eley.

The Indians' 6-foot-10 center, who suffered a broken bone in his right foot against Southern Illinois on Dec. 11, has missed Southeast's last seven games.

But Eley was cleared to start rehabilitation last week and he should be able to play some tonight when the Indians take on Tennessee State in Nashville.

Southeast coach Gary Garner said he doesn't plan to start Eley tonight but hopes his big man will be able to play for at least a while.

"We're planning on playing him (against Tennessee State)," said Garner on Monday. "We haven't got the 100 percent clearance yet, but Dr. (William) Thorpe told me after Saturday's game that I could probably plan on playing Bud Tuesday night.

"How much he'll play, I don't know. He's been riding the (exercise) bike, but you can't stay in basketball condition without playing basketball. We won't start him, but we'll put him in the game and see how it goes. We don't want to take any chances, that's for sure."

Eley is averaging team highs of 18.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. The Indians have gone 3-4 without him in the lineup and will certainly welcome him back, particularly on the boards.

Southeast was outrebounded badly in three straight games before holding a slight edge on the boards during Saturday's 70-55 loss to Middle Tennessee.

"Bud being back will help us in a lot of areas, especially on the boards," Garner said. "But he hasn't played in a while and we can't expect him to come back and right away dominate. It might take some time."

Also on the injury front, Garner said that David Montgomery (ankle), Kahn Cotton (thigh) and Demetrius Watson (hip) continue to improve while Cory Johnson (back spasms) continues to have problems. All four have been starting and playing plenty of minutes despite their injuries.

"We're getting better injury wise," said Garner. "Cory's back continues to give him problems, which is a concern. I think he's playing in a lot of pain, but he's really a tough kid."

* Montgomery, a 6-8 junior forward who has been playing center in Eley's absence, leads the Ohio Valley Conference in field-goal percentage at 63.6 percent (63 of 99).

Johnson, a 6-foot junior guard, would be leading the OVC in free-throw percentage but he is just one short of the minimum OVC statistical requirement of two made foul shots per game.

Johnson is shooting 87.1 percent from the line for the season (27 of 31) and he is a perfect 18-for-18 in OVC games. Johnson has hit his last 14 free throws.

Also, Johnson leads the OVC in 3-pointers made per game (3.43) and he ranks third in the league in 3-point shooting percentage (43.6 percent).

As a team, the Indians lead the OVC in free-throw shooting at 69.9 percent.

* Southeast is closing in on 1,000 wins as a collegiate basketball team.

Since 1906, the Indians have compiled a 997-787 record.