Indians cruise at home

Three days after squeezing out a one-point season-opening win, Southeast Missouri State University's Indians barely worked up a sweat in moving to 2-0 for the first time in three years.

Kentucky Christian College battled hard but was simply overmatched during an 83-51 Southeast romp in front of an announced crowd of 3,167 at the Show Me Center Monday night.

The Knights, who do not award athletic scholarships and compete in the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association's Division II, fell to 7-6 as they had a five-game winning streak snapped.

"It's a win, but we didn't play too well," said junior guard Brett Hale, who led the Indians with 18 points, grabbed six rebounds and was the Copi-Rite player of the game. "But it feels good to be 2-0. It's a little different. And a game like this is good to get some people in who usually don't play too much."

That was the most pleasing aspect of the contest for Southeast coach Gary Garner, whose team -- like most Ohio Valley Conference squads -- annually plays two non-Division I programs.

A night for the reserves

Garner cleared his bench early and often as many of his top players saw limited action. All 14 Indians played at least five minutes and 13 reached the scoring column.

"The main reason we schedule these type of games it to get qualify playing time for some of the players who work as hard as everybody else but usually don't get to play much," Garner said.

Junior forward Reggie Golson, continuing to round into form after missing several weeks of practice with an ankle injury, scored 11 points and pulled down six rebounds.

"I'm getting there," Golson said. "My body is starting to get used to it."

Junior backup center Adam Crader scored a career-high nine points and added six rebounds as he continues to look like an improved player who could provide the Indians much-needed depth in the middle.

"I think Adam is starting to get a little confidence," Garner said. "He hasn't had any since he's been here."

Said Crader, "I just feel more intact with the game plan and understand my role. I'm trying."

Junior guard/forward Norman Prather added eight points, six rebounds and three steals, and sophomore reserve forward Cole Grapperhaus grabbed a team-high seven rebounds in just nine minutes.

Darnell Chatman led the Knights with 15 points. T.J. Lykins had 12 and Daniel Williams added 10.

With no player taller than 6-foot-4, the Knights were pounded on the boards 56-36. But the Indians didn't take full advantage of their edge in size and athletic ability as they often settled for outside shots instead of working the ball inside.

The Indians hit just four of 27 3-pointers, but the Knights weren't much better at six of 29.

"We probably shot too much from the outside at times," Hale said.

Southeast led 42-22 at halftime and coasted in the second half.

"We didn't play that great, but I'm just glad we won," Crader said. "It's a big difference being 2-0."