Fresh off third win, Indians seek a repeat

With their first Ohio Valley Conference victory under their belts, Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians enter tonight's game against Morehead State at the Show Me Center with renewed confidence.

"There's no question," Southeast coach Gary Garner said of the Indians' 95-75 triumph over visiting Eastern Kentucky Thursday night. "You can work and work in practice, but there's nothing like winning to get the players believing in what they're doing."

Victories have been scarce this season for the Indians (3-11 overall, 1-2 OVC), who can put together their first two-game winning streak of the schedule by beating the Eagles (6-7, 1-2).

The Eagles, picked No. 4 in the preseason, feature one of the OVC's top players in swingman Ricky Minard, last year's league freshman of the year.

Minard, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, ranks among the leaders in most conference statistical categories,, including third in scoring and fourth in rebounding with averages of 20.8 points and 7.8 boards a game.

"He is really a complete player," Garner said of Minard. "He shoots the three well, he puts it on the floor, he rebounds. He can do just about everything."

Morehead State also has the OVC's No. 12 scorer and No. 8 rebounder in forward/center Kyle Umberger. Umberger, a 6-6, 245-pounder, averages 13.2 points and 6.5 rebounds a game.

"They have the three ingredients you need to have a good basketball team, a really good all-around player in Minard, a good point guard in Sykes and a really strong inside player in Umberger," Garner said.

Southeast has two of the OVC's top 10 scorers in redshirt freshman guard Derek Winans (15 ppg) and junior forward Tim Scheer (14.4 ppg), who has been one of the Indians' most consistent scorers in recent weeks.

Another Indian in double figures is junior center Drew DeMond (10.9 ppg), who has elevated his offense over the past several games. DeMond shoots 55.6 percent from the field, which is fourth in the OVC.

The Indians have gotten a lift over the past few games from forward Monte Gordon, the squad's lone senior who was academically ineligible the first semester and missed several games with a racing heart that hampered him much of last season.

Gordon came off the bench to score 14 points against Eastern Kentucky and has 30 points in the past three games.

"I got new medication and I've been fine since," Gordon said of his heart problems. "I just try to play as hard as I can for as long as I can. It feels good to contribute."

While Southeast posted a lopsided victory Thursday, Morehead State is coming off a stunning 72-71 loss at Eastern Illinois after the Panthers rallied from a six-point deficit over the final 1:16.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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