INDIANS CRUSH CATS OUT OF GATE

Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner was bracing everybody for the worst prior to Friday night's season opener against Western Carolina.

Expect an ugly game by Southeast, particularly offensively, cautioned Garner. If the Indians were going to win, they would have to do all the little things, said the coach, who expected a close game.

Well, Garner probably did believe all of the above. But that kind of contest never materialized.

Instead, the Indians delighted 4,273 fans at the Show Me Center with an impressive performance -- particularly for a first game -- as they routed the Catamounts of the Southern Conference 93-69."I'm very pleased for the first game and for this time of the year. There were a lot of positives," said Garner. "But we've got a long way to go. We're not a smooth basketball team."But from where Western Carolina coach Phil Hopkins was sitting, the Indians looked plenty smooth."They're a very good team," said Hopkins. "We still hope to do pretty well in our conference, but I don't think we'll be facing many teams like that. I'm not just blowing smoke. I feel they're that good."Garner realizes that blending only a few returning players with five key junior-college transfers will take some time, but the Indians definitely seemed to blend well on this night."I think we're all starting to jell together," said senior forward Mike Branson, one of two returning starters from last season who led all scorers with 18 points and also blocked four shots. "We have some things we still need to work on, but it was a good effort for the first game."Then Branson smiled and, sounding a lot like his coach, said, "It's only the first game. We have to keep it in perspective. We've still got a long way to go."Junior point guard Michael Stokes, the prize jewel in Southeast's highly regarded junior-college recruiting class, was again brilliant, as he had been during the exhibition games.

The ultra-quick yet seemingly always under control Stokes scored 15 points, dished out nine assists, had five steals and pulled down five rebounds."We're still learning, but for a first game it went all right," said the understated Stokes.

Said Garner of Stokes, "He's a true point guard. He gets everybody involved, he plays under control and he can score."Senior forward Roderick Johnson, the Indians' other returning starter from last season, scored 13 points, as did 6-foot-11 junior center Nyah Jones, a juco product who came off the bench to show a nice touch around the basket. Jones also blocked three shots."I thought Nyah gave us a lift," Garner said. "He showed what he can be."The fifth Indian to score in double figures was junior guard Antonio Short, like Stokes and Jones a highly rated juco transfer. Short finished with 11 points."I think we were nervous at the beginning of the game, but we all loosened up," said Short, who added with a grin, "We played well, but not as well as coach wanted us to."Senior center Brian Bunche, the Indians' third and final eligible returning player from last season (backup point guard Fred Abraham is academically ineligible for the first semester), scored nine points and tied Stokes, Branson and Jones for team-high rebounding honors with five."I think we played really well," Bunche said. "We've been working real hard in practice and the new guys are fitting in real well."Three other players who saw decent minutes off the bench -- juco products Amory Sanders and Emmanuel McCuthison, along with redshirt freshman Drew DeMond -- also had their moments."I thought we got solid play from just about everybody," said Garner.

The close game that Garner had envisioned never materialized. The lead changed hands several times early but, from a 16-16 tie, the Indians used an 11-0 run to start breaking things open.

Southeast led 48-37 at halftime, thanks in large part to 63-percent shooting. A 7-0 run to start the second half gave the Indians a 55-37 advantage and effectively sealed things.

With 16:25 left, Stokes and Branson teamed for the highlight play of the evening when Stokes threw up an alley-oop pass to Branson, who jammed the ball home.

The Indians led by as many as 25 points before coasting home. Southeast wound up shooting 60 percent for the game (36 of 60)."Our offensive execution was a little better than I thought it would be. We got great shots" said Garner. "I really expected a close basketball game. I definitely didn't expect us to win by this margin."Western Carolina was led by Ricky Gandy with 14 points. Also in double figures were Leon Davis with 13 and Dondrell Whitmore with 11."They defended us well and they're very well coached," said Hopkins in continuing to praise the Indians. "Their guards are very good. Stokes is a tremendous player."Southeast will return to action Monday night when Division II Rockhurst of Kansas City comes to the Show Me Center.