Indians go for a quick recovery vs. Racers

Southeast Missouri State University's Indians don't have much time to feel sorry for themselves following Thursday's overtime loss to Tennessee-Martin.

That's because Murray State is next on the schedule. The Racers (9-5, 2-1 Ohio Valley Conference) and Indians (6-9, 1-3) square off tonight at the Show Me Center.

"It hurts, but we just have one day to regroup," Southeast coach Gary Garner said following the 88-80 setback to Tennessee-Martin. "We have to get ready for Murray State."

What hurt the Indians the most about Thursday's defeat is that they played well and controlled most of the game. Southeast never trailed in regulation and held four 10-point leads, the last with just over nine minutes remaining.

But the Skyhawks hung around, steadily chipped away at the deficit and hit huge shots down the stretch, including a 3-pointer with eight seconds left to force overtime. Tennessee-Martin dominated the five-minute extra session.

"I don't know if we can play much better than we did," Garner said.

The scary thing for the Indians is that Garner knows it will probably take a much stronger performance to have a chance at upsetting perennial OVC power Murray State.

"They're a typical Murray team. They have great athletes," Garner said.

The Racers have been the OVC's dominant squad over the past 15 years, winning nine conference tournament championships. Although the Racers have not won an OVC regular-season title the past two years, they grabbed at least a share of the previous seven.

Murray State, which captured last year's OVC Tournament crown to earn an automatic NCAA berth, returned four starters from that squad and was picked first in the OVC preseason poll, just ahead of two-time defending champion Tennessee Tech.

"They're very good, like they always are," Garner said.

Unlike some years past, the Racers don't appear to have any one or two dominant players but are extremely balanced.

Chris Shumate, a 6-foot-6 junior guard who missed most of last season with an illness, has bounced back strong to average a team-high 13.2 points per game. He scored 23 during Thursday's 80-74 win at Eastern Illinois in which the Racers rallied from a five-point deficit with five minutes remaining.

Also averaging in double figures for the Racers are 6-5 junior forward Cuthbert Victory (11.8 ppg), 6-8 senior center James Singleton (11.3 ppg) and 6-5 senior forward Antione Whelchel (10.6 ppg).

Singleton, the OVC's leading rebounder last season, is second this year with 9.7 per game and trails only Southeast's Brandon Griffin, who averages 10.6. Victor is sixth in the league in rebounding with 6.7.

Antonio Henderson, a 6-1 senior guard, and Vanderbilt transfer Rick Jones, a 6-1 junior guard, are the Racers' top 3-point threats, shooting 42 and 36 percent, respectively.

"Singleton and Whelchel really go to the boards. Rebounding will be a big key for us," Garner said.

The Indians still figure to be shorthanded tonight as Demetrius King is doubtful with a knee injury that kept him out of Thursday's game.

Damarcus Hence, who was expected to play little Thursday after having oral surgery but led the Indians with 22 points, should be at just about full strength. Reserves Adam Crader and John Boggio, who were both questionable Thursday with injuries but played, should also be able to go again.

"It was a tough loss, but we've just got to put it behind us," Hence said. "Murray has a great team, and we know we're going to have to play really good."

Murray State, which leads the all-time series with Southeast 32-13, has won the past four meetings and 19 of the last 21.

The only season the Indians were able to get the better of the Racers in recent times came in 1999-2000, when Southeast won two of three meetings -- including a victory in the OVC Tournament title game that gave the Indians their first and only NCAA Division I Tournament berth.

"They've handled us pretty good over the years," Garner said, "but I know this is a game that the fans really get excited about."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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