'Hawks-Racers play to national audience

~ Southeast will attempt to end its five-game losing streak today on ESPN2.

A bad season for Southeast Missouri State got even worse Thursday night, when Morehead State picked up its first Ohio Valley Conference win at the expense of the host Redhawks.

But if ever the depleted Redhawks would figure to be extra motivated to put on a good show -- and perhaps end their five-game losing streak -- today appears to be that time.

Not only will the Redhawks (6-12, 3-9 OVC) face arch-rival Murray State (12-5, 9-2) in a 3 p.m. tipoff at the Show Me Center, most of the nation will have an opportunity to watch what transpires.

ESPN2 -- which is carried by virtually every cable outlet across the country -- will televise the game as part of the OVC's package with the various ESPN networks.

Two previous Southeast games this season -- at Illinois on Dec. 28 and against Eastern Kentucky on Jan. 2 -- were shown nationally on fledgling ESPNU, which is carried by few outlets.

The Redhawks beat Eastern Kentucky and trailed nationally ranked Illinois by just seven points early in the second half before losing 89-64.

"We've played good in TV games so far, so hopefully we'll play good again," sophomore point guard Paul Paradoski said. "I think it can motivate us, being on national television, especially one of the main ESPN stations."

That Southeast has a chance to knock the Racers out of the OVC's top spot -- they are tied for first place with Samford -- should also give the Redhawks plenty of incentive.

But more than anything, the Redhawks -- tied for ninth among 11 OVC squads -- simply need to get back in the win column as quickly as possible.

"We just need a win to get us going," Paradoski said.

A big win for Murray State

That sure won't be easy against a Murray State team that has won seven of its last eight games, including Thursday's 55-51 win over fellow OVC power Tennessee Tech.

The Racers feature a balanced and deep squad, with only junior forward Shawn Witherspoon averaging in double figures at 10.8 points per game. Five other players average between 7.8 and 9.7 points.

Murray State has sparkled defensively, leading the OVC in field-goal percentage defense (41.1) and ranking second in scoring defense (62.2 ppg).

"They're very talented, and they've got such a deep team," Southeast coach Gary Garner said. "They are really good."

Southeast played one of its better games of the season in the earlier meeting against the Racers, falling 81-68 on Jan. 7 in Murray, Ky., as that defeat actually started the Redhawks' current losing streak.

The Redhawks shot 51.2 percent -- one of just two times they have been above 50 percent in OVC play -- and trailed by only four points with under 9 minutes left before the Racers pulled away.

Murray State was even more impressive in that contest, shooting 50 percent and committing just two turnovers.

"We played pretty well the last time, and I thought they played great," Garner said.