Finals are Indians' key test during idle stretch

Acing finals and getting healthy are Southeast Missouri State University's primary goals this week.

The Indians, who improved to 5-3 by beating Division II Oakland City 79-67 Saturday night, don't play again until Monday night when North Texas visits the Show Me Center. The Mean Green (3-3) have two more games before Monday.

This is finals week at Southeast, so coach Gary Garner wants his players to think as much -- if not more -- about the classroom than the court.

"I hope they're thinking more about academics until finals are over," Garner said. "We're only going to practice about an hour, an hour and a half a day. Once all the finals are over Friday, we'll really start concentrating on North Texas."

Garner also hopes the Indians can get healthy this week. Several key players are banged up, although none of the injuries appear serious.

Garner is most concerned about the nagging groin problems that have plagued leading scorer Dainmon Gonner off and on for several weeks. Gonner, a junior forward averaging 13.8 points per game, played just six minutes against Oakland City.

"We'll give him three, four days off and hopefully he'll be fine," Garner said. "He's really a tough kid. If anybody will be able to play through it, it's him."

Another starter, Norman Prather, played just nine minutes against Oakland City after tweaking the ankle that has bothered him for several weeks, but Garner expects him to be fine after a few days off.

Forward Reggie Golson (dislocated finger) and center Adam Crader (back spasms) did not play Saturday but should be fine for North Texas.

"We've got some injuries to take care of, but we're going to work hard this week because we have a tough North Texas team coming in," said junior guard Derek Winans, the Indians' second-leading scorer at 11.9 points per game who is shooting 47.4 percent from 3-point range. "We have to keep getting better."

So far so good in that department, according to Garner, who seems satisfied with the Indians' 5-3 start.

"We're making progress. We're getting better with each game and each practice. I feel good about us now," Garner said. "When you look at your schedule ... 5-3 is where I hoped we'd be. You hoped to be 8-0, but we're pretty much on schedule."

Senior center Brandon Griffin, averaging 10.1 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds per game, is by far the Indians' leader in assists with 29. Griffin had a rare triple-double against Oakland City with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists to win the Ohio Valley Conference player of the week award.

"Even though it's against a Division II team, when you get a triple-double, that's pretty good," Garner said. "We're really cutting more than we ever have, and when we throw it to Brandon he's finding the open man. He was a good passer last year but he's improved a lot. His vision is so impressive."