INDIANS BRACE FOR BUBBA ATTACK; SEMO TAKES ON AUSTIN PEAY TONIGHT IN KEY OVC BATTLE

The Bubba Wells Show comes to Cape Girardeau tonight and Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians are probably hoping it doesn't meet to rave reviews.

Wells, Austin Peay's marvelously talented senior forward, will be the prime focus of Southeast's defense when the teams square off in a 7:45 Ohio Valley Conference game at the Show Me Center.

Southeast fans are probably all too aware of what Wells did back on Jan. 4 when he made his season debut after recovering from surgery for a stress fracture in his leg.

Wells didn't start that game in Clarksville, Tenn. But he wound up playing 28 minutes and pouring in 39 points as the Governors beat the Indians 96-85.

Since that time, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Wells -- who is equally comfortable popping 3-pointers as he is driving to the basket -- has done a number on virtually every OVC opponent.

Wells, in nine games, has averaged 32 points per contest. He's shooting 52 percent from the field overall, including 35 percent from 3-point range. Against Southeast earlier in the season, he hit seven of 11 3-pointers.

"Bubba is a great all-around player," said Southeast coach Ron Shumate of the nation's leading returner scorer from last season and a possible NBA draft pick this year. "He can hurt you in so many ways. Hopefully we'll do a little better job on him than we did last time."

But Wells is not the only player the Indians will have to pay close attention to. Like most great performers, Wells has a knack for making everybody around him play that much better.

Also key players for the Govs are 6-7 junior center Reggie Crenshaw (13.0 points per game, team-high 9.2 rebounds per game), 6-foot junior guard Joe Sibbitt (12.7 ppg, 38 percent 3-point shooting) and splendid 6-2 senior Colby Pierce, arguably the OVC's top point guard who averages better than six assists per game and has more than a two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio.

"They've got a lot of other players that can hurt you," Shumate said. "They returned four starters from the team that won the OVC Tournament last year and they were picked to win the league this season. That tells you about their talent."

Tonight's game is a big one as far as the OVC standings go. The Govs remained in a first-place tie with Murray State after winning 86-76 at Eastern Illinois Saturday. Austin Peay is 11-10 overall and 8-3 in league play.

Southeast moved into a third-place OVC tie with Eastern Illinois by holding off visiting Tennessee State 78-75 Saturday. The Indians, who broke a three-game losing streak, improved to 9-12 overall and 6-4 in league play.

"It was a big win for us," said Shumate, whose team improved to 1-1 during its current four-game homestand that concludes Thursday against Murray State. "All the games are critical now.

"Austin Peay and Murray State are tied for first (in the OVC) and we've got both of them at our place this week. So we have a chance to really help ourselves in the standings, but both teams are very good and it's going to be difficult to beat them."

Shumate is hoping for a big crowd tonight -- and not only because the Indians are right in the thick of the OVC race after more than half of the conference schedule.

The Southeast coach figures area basketball fans will be missing out on something special if they don't catch the sensational Wells' last performance at the Show Me Center.

"Bubba is the best player in the OVC and one of the best players at his position in the nation," said Shumate. "This is his last time playing at the Show Me Center and he's got a good chance to play at the next level (the NBA). I would think people would want to come out and see him."

SEMO vs. Austin Peay

7:45 p.m., Show Me Center

Probable Starters

SEMO (9-12, 6-4 OVC)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Calvert White F Jr. 6-4 13.8

Devron Kirksey F Jr. 6-7 5.6

Bud Eley C Jr. 6-10 16.6

Lakeo Keller G Jr. 5-10 6.6

Allen Hatchett G So. 5-10 9.3

AP (11-10, 8-3 OVC)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Bubba Wells F Sr. 6-5 32.0

Mike Witherspoon F Jr. 6-5 8.0

Reggie Crenshaw C Jr. 6-7 13.0

Joe Sibbitt G Jr. 6-0 12.7

Colby Pierce G Sr. 6-2 6.8

Series: 7-7

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