INDIANS HOPE TO ERASE RACER LEAD; SE LOOKS FOR SHARE OF FIRST

In the six-year history of Southeast Missouri State University's NCAA Division I basketball program, the Indians have not played many -- if any -- important Ohio Valley Conference games this late in the season.

That's why Southeast coach Ron Shumate barely hesitated when asked if tonight's contest against Murray State ranks as his team's biggest ever on the Division I level.

"As far as a conference game, there's no question about that," said Shumate. "It's a big opportunity for us."

The Indians and Racers will square off at 7:30 at the Show Me Center in a battle for first place in the OVC. The contest will close out a four-game Southeast homestand.

Murray State (8-3 OVC) currently holds a slim lead in the conference standings. Austin Peay (8-4), which lost to Southeast Monday night, is just a half-game behind while the Indians and Eastern Illinois (both 7-4) are a full game back in a third-place tie.

A Southeast victory tonight would square the Indians with Murray State and put them in a first-place tie on the loss side, although an Austin Peay win at Middle Tennessee State would technically put the Governors a half-game ahead of the pack.

"Our fans deserve a game like this," said Shumate. "They've hung in there with us through some lean times.

"I've always tried to get the fans involved. I think our fans are back and excited again. I just hope we fill the place up."

A win over the Racers would certainly give Southeast fans something to get extremely excited about because Southeast hasn't beaten perennial OVC power Murray State since 1992. Since then, the Racers are 9-0 against the Indians.

"We haven't been very successful against Murray State, but we have usually played well against them," said Shumate. "We usually play well at Murray and Murray always plays well here.

"It seems like we've developed something special with Murray State. It's become a great rivalry. Both teams get excited to play each other."

The Indians took the Racers to the wire back on Jan. 23 in Murray, Ky., rallying from a big second-half deficit to tie the game in the final minute. But Chad Townsend hit a 15-footer with under 10 seconds left to lift the Racers to a 77-75 victory.

Murray State is led by its three-guard tandem of Vincent Rainey, Deteri Mayes and Townsend.

Rainey, a 6-foot-4 senior, averages 23.5 points per game while Mayes, a 6-3 junior, scores 20.8 points a contest. Townsend, the Racers' point guard, averages 12.7 points and 7.5 assists per game. Townsend is second in the OVC in assists.

"They're very guard oriented. Their three guards are as good as there is in the conference, without question," Shumate said. "Murray State has an excellent team. But if we do a good job on their guards, we'll have an opportunity to win."

The Racers are not particularly strong inside, as was evidenced by the performance Southeast center Bud Eley had in the last meeting between the teams. Eley, a 6-10 junior who averages 17.4 points per game, had career highs of 34 points and 20 rebounds on Jan. 23.

Eley almost singlehandedly led the Indians to a comeback victory that night as he scored 28 second-half points.

"We sure did a great job on Bud, didn't we," said Murray State coach Mark Gottfried after the last meeting. "But that's why he's probably the best big man in the OVC."

Townsend gave Eley credit after that performance, but he hoped the Racers could do a better job defensively the next time.

"I've got to hand it to Bud. Getting 34 points and 20 rebounds is an awesome night for anybody," said Townsend. "Hopefully we'll play better defense on him next time."

The "next time" is here. And Eley said the Indians will be ready.

"We played with a lot more intensity (during Monday's 73-72 win over Austin Peay) and that's what we've got to do against Murray State," Eley said. "They've got a great team. We need this one before we go back out on the road."

SEMO vs. Austin Peay

7:30 p.m., Show Me Center

Probable Starters

SEMO (10-12, 7-4 OVC)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Calvert White F Jr. 6-4 13.7

Devron Kirksey F Jr. 6-7 5.7

Bud Eley C Jr. 6-10 17.4

Reggie Crisp G Sr. 6-5 3.6

Allen Hatchett G So. 5-10 9.5

MSU (13-6, 8-3 OVC)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Arnell Hamilton F Jr. 6-8 1.8

Vincent Rainey F Sr. 6-4 23.5

D.J. Dahl C Jr. 6-11 5.5

Chad Townsend G Jr. 6-1 12.7

Deteri Mayes G Jr. 6-3 20.8

Series: 24-12 MSU

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