Gonner's long wait ends with big night

Junior forward makes immediate impact in 93-66 exhibition victory over Truman State.

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

Dainmon Gonner is being counted on to have a major impact for Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball team.

If Thursday night's exhibition opener is an indication, Gonner should live up to all the hype.

Gonner, a junior forward who practiced with Southeast during last season's second semester after transferring from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, had game highs of 24 points and 15 rebounds as the Indians eased past Division II Truman State 93-66.

The powerful 6-foot-6, 230-pounder hit 11 of 16 field-goal attempts as he scored on a variety of inside moves, outside jumpers -- including a 3-pointer -- and offensive rebounds. For good measure, he added three assists and three steals in front of an announced crowd of 3,714 at the Show Me Center.

"It was my first game in about a year and half. It felt good to be out there," Gonner said, flashing a big grin. "I just try to play hard and let the game come to me. I don't try to force things. I just try to help the team out as much as I can."

Gonner is far from flashy, but he's a welcome sight for coach Gary Garner as the Indians try to recover from two straight down seasons, including last year's 11-19 record.

"Dainmon is not flashy. He just gets it done," Garner said. "And he's a tough player."

Gonner showed that he should be able to give senior center Brandon Griffin plenty of help on the boards after Griffin was virtually a one-man rebounding crew last season, setting a school single-season record.

Griffin added 18 points and nine rebounds Thursday. He hit eight of 13 shots from the field.

Junior guards Brett Hale and Derek Winans followed with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Hale hit three of five 3-pointers.

"I think we were a little tired of playing against ourselves. It was good to play another team," Hale said. "It was a good game to see where we're at. We did some things wrong and some things right, but we played hard. For the first time out, it was pretty good."

Garner said it was a typical exhibition opener.

"In an exhibition game, you usually look for two things, effort and execution. Our effort was really good but our execution was very poor, which is to be expected at this time of the year," Garner said. "Overall, I thought our performance was all right. But we have a long, long way to go."

Southeast shot 50.7 percent from the field (37 of 73), limited the Bulldogs to 36.1-percent shooting (22 of 61) and outrebounded the visitors 47-32.

Still, Truman State hung tough a good portion of the contest. The Bulldogs trailed 44-32 at halftime before the Indians steadily pulled away in the second half.

"They played hard and they really executed well," Southeast freshman Terrick Willougby said.

Despite the easy win, not all the news was rosy for the Indians.

Forward Reggie Golson, who played with Gonner at Hutchinson Community College, practiced with Southeast last year and is being counted on to start, could miss from two to four more weeks with an ankle injury he recently suffered. It is believed there is a slight fracture in the ankle.

Another first-year Indian being counted on heavily, junior-college transfer Norman Prather, also recently suffered an ankle injury and like Golson did not suit up Thursday, but Prather is expected back soon.

Also not playing Thursday was junior backup center Adam Crader, who was ill and stayed at home.

"For a first game, I think we did all right, but we have to shape up on defense," Gonner said. "But once we get everybody healthy, we'll have a nice squad."

The Indians will play their final exhibition game Wednesday when Missouri-Rolla, another Division II team, visits the Show Me Center for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.