Herring, Moore play final home game

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team already has set a school record for most losses in a season and is carrying the nation's longest active losing streak.

Don't blame the Redhawks' two seniors, who will be recognized before tonight's final home game, the BracketBuster contest against Northern Illinois.

Kenard Moore and Jaycen Herring have done their part to salvage something out of what had the makings of a disastrous campaign from the outset.

That Moore and Herring have not been able to lift the Redhawks to more wins should not be held against them, said Southeast acting coach Zac Roman.

Southeast enters the 7:45 p.m. tipoff 3-24, which includes a 16-game losing streak that is tied for the school record.

The Redhawks, who end the season with two Ohio Valley Conference road games next week, are 0-16 in league play and assured of finishing last.

"They're good kids. They were thrown into a tough situation," Roman said of his seniors. "I'm very proud of them."

Moore, a 6-foot guard, is Southeast's leading scorer with an average of 18 points per game that ranks fourth in the OVC.

Herring, a 6-5 forward, is averaging 15.9 points to rank seventh in the conference.

No other squad member is averaging more than 7.1 points.

In conference games, Moore's 18.2 scoring average ranks fourth, while Herring's 17.6 mark is sixth.

On a team that only has had seven scholarship players available since junior center Calvin Williams' recent dismissal, Moore and Herring have been iron men.

Herring leads the OVC in minutes played at 36.6 per contest, including 38.1 minutes in conference action.

Moore is third in the OVC in minutes played at 36 per outing, including 37.4 in league games.

"They know they'll log a lot of minutes. They've never complained," Roman said. "They just do whatever is asked of them."

Moore and Herring, also key players for Southeast last year after transferring from junior college, said they have tried to do whatever is needed to help the Redhawks.

"We try to show senior leadership," Moore said. "We're not vocal leaders. We try to lead by example.

Added Herring: "I just play hard to the best of my ability."

The seniors knew this season would present challenges due to the lack of players and the fact coach Scott Edgar was placed on administrative leave before practice started and later fired for alleged NCAA violations.

But never in their wildest dreams did they expect the Redhawks to struggle so much.

"It's not playing out like I pictured it to be," Herring said.

Moore and Herring both figure to have an opportunity to play professionally overseas next year, but right now their attention is on the Redhawks.

"Me and Kenard's last year, we're trying to go out with something, at least a couple of wins," Herring said.

About the Huskies

Northern Illinois (7-17, 3-9 in the Mid-American Conference) has lost seven of its last eight games. Darion Anderson, a 6-2 sophomore guard, leads the Huskies with 16.2 points per contest.