INDIANS DOWN, BUT NOT OUT OF OVC HUNT

Despite a three-game losing streak, Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians remain very much in the thick of the Ohio Valley Conference race.

The Indians, 8-12 overall and 5-4 in league play, are 1 1/2 games behind Eastern Illinois (6-2), Murray State (7-3) and Austin Peay (7-3), but Southeast trails those latter two teams by only one game in the loss column.

And, with Middle Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech both losing Monday night while Southeast was idle, the Indians took over sole possession of fourth place.

While being in fourth place all alone might not seem important right now, it ultimately will be because the top four teams in the final OVC standings earn home games for the first-round of the OVC Tournament.

"The league title and all positions are certainly up for grabs," said Southeast coach Ron Shumate. "Eastern Illinois is stepping out on it and Murray State and Austin Peay are both coming on. They look like the three heading into the second half of the conference race.

"We've got all three of them left on our schedule. If nobody else can knock them off, we can take care of them ourselves. That's the attitude we have to take. The opportunity is still there for us, but we have to get it done ourselves."

Southeast has lost its last three games by a total of 10 points, with a four-point loss at Tennessee Tech, a two-point loss at Murray State and a four-point loss to Eastern Illinois that started the Indians' four-game homestand on Saturday night.

"It was a tough week for us. It was a struggle," Shumate said. "We played pretty well at times and we were in a position to win the games. We just couldn't get it done.

"We still have three home games left (during the current homestand), but sometimes I wonder. It seems like we play better on the road. Hopefully we can turn that around this weekend."

* The Indians will have their second of four straight home games Saturday when Tennessee State comes to the Show Me Center for a 5 p.m. contest that will be televised by KBSI-Fox 23.

TSU, which has been playing the entire conference season without standout Monty Wilson, lost to the Indians 71-53 back on Jan. 6 in Nashville, but the Tigers have been the league's hottest team with a four-game winning streak.

The Tigers are 6-11 overall and 4-5 in OVC play after beating Eastern Kentucky 82-71 Monday night.

Although TSU officials are saying Wilson won't play Saturday, Shumate believes there is a good chance he'll see action against the Indians.

"We'll prepare like we're expecting him to play," said Shumate.

* Southeast center Bud Eley is the team's leading scorer and rebounder on the season, averaging 16.5 points and 11 boards per game.

Since OVC play began, the 6-foot-10 junior has stepped up his play even more, averaging 19.2 points and 12.2 rebounds in the 12 conference games.

Calvert White, a 6-4 junior, is the only other Southeast player averaging in double figures. He's at 13.9 points per game.

"Eley and White are doing most of our scoring," Shumate said. "We have to get consistency from the other players, not only scoring but at both ends of the court."

* Following Saturday's game, the Indians will host Austin Peay next Monday night and Murray State the following Thursday night.

Both the Govs and Racers have won three straight to climb into a virtual tie with Eastern Illinois for first place in the OVC. Austin Peay visits Eastern Illinois Saturday while Murray State hosts Tennessee-Martin.

* The best game around the league Monday night was Tennessee-Martin's 61-59 upset of Middle Tennessee.

UTM's Hamp Harper hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift the host Skyhawks. The Blue Raiders thus fell into a fifth-place tie with Tennessee Tech, both at 5-5.