INDIANS BRACE FOR RUGGED OVC TEST; SHUMATE GOES FOR 300TH WIN AS EKU VISITS TODAY

Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Ron Shumate has an old theory about what it takes to be a contender for a conference championship.

"You have to win all your games at home and steal a few on the road," says Shumate.

Even though it's still extremely early in the Ohio Valley Conference season, so far the Indians are right on Shumate's schedule.

In order to remain that way, however, they'll have to overcome a major challenge today when Eastern Kentucky comes to the Show Me Center for a 5 p.m. tipoff. The game will be televised by KBSI-Fox 23.

"Eastern Kentucky has an extremely talented team and they've been playing very well," said Shumate, who can gain his 300th win as Southeast's coach today. Shumate is 299-162 in his 16th season with the Indians and he is 438-223 overall as a collegiate head coach.

The Indians opened their OVC home schedule Thursday night by slipping past Tennessee-Martin 82-72 in overtime. Southeast led by 18 points in the second half before the Skyhawks staged a furious rally.

Last weekend, the Indians went 1-1 during their opening OVC road trip, losing at Austin Peay and winning at Tennessee State.

Thus, so far, his team is doing exactly what Shumate feels is vital -- winning at home and stealing some here and there on the road.

"It's early, but we've already got one on the road, but now these next two home games are critical," Shumate said. "We really need to go 3-0 on this homestand."

Southeast and EKU are both 2-1 in what is an extremely scrambled OVC race so far. Tennessee Tech and Eastern Illinois are also each 2-1 while Middle Tennessee and Austin Peay have 3-1 record.

The Indians are 5-9 overall while the Colonels are 4-7 overall.

EKU is led in scoring by 6-foot-7 junior forward Daniel Sutton, who averages 13.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

One of the Colonels' main threats is 6-11 junior center Matt Simons, a transfer from Louisville who averages 12.2 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds per contest.

Adding nearly 10 points game to the Colonels' balanced offense are 6-3 senior guard Carlos Bess and 6-2 sophomore guard Travis Inskeep.

"They're a very well-coached basketball team," Shumate said. "Coach (Mike) Calhoun does a good job.

"They've got a good big man and they're very athletic. They can do a lot of things. Their point guard does a good job of penetrating and pitching for 3-pointers."

Southeast seemed to have its OVC home opener with Tennessee-Martin under control as the Indians opened up an 18-point lead with under 10 minutes remaining.

But the Skyhawks used an 18-0 run to even the contest and the squads eventually went to overtime, where the Indians used a 16-6 edge to prevail.

SEMO vs. Eastern Kentucky

5 p.m., Show Me Center

Probable Starters

SEMO (5-9, 2-1 OVC)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Devron Kirksey F Jr. 6-7 6.5

Calvert White F Jr. 6-4 13.6

Bud Eley C Jr. 6-10 15.7

Dante Bryant G So. 6-1 1.8

Allen Hatchett G So. 5-10 9.3

EKU (4-9, 2-1 OVC)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Daniel Sutton F Jr. 6-7 13.5

Aaron Cecil F Jr. 6-6 5.5

Matt Simons C Jo. 6-11 12.2

Carlos Bess G Sr. 6-3 9.9

Travis Inskeep G So. 6-2 9.0

Series: 7-3 EKU

Radio: K103-FM

TV: KBSI-Fox 23