Indians look to regroup

Southeast Missouri State University's mission as it begins a three-game Ohio Valley Conference homestand tonight is to try and pick itself up off the ground after Saturday's discouraging loss at Eastern Illinois in the Indians' OVC opener.

The Indians (2-10 overall, 0-1 OVC) led heavily favored Eastern Illinois by 18 points with under 10 minutes to play but saw the Panthers rally for a stunning 84-74 victory.

Now the Indians must regroup in time for Tennessee State (4-9, 1-2), which visits the Show Me Center tonight. Southeast will also host Eastern Kentucky (3-10, 0-3) Thursday night and Morehead State (6-6, 1-1) Saturday night.

"It was a devastating loss for us," said Southeast coach Gary Garner of Saturday's setback. "We played so well for 30, 32 minutes, whatever it was, and then we did everything wrong in the last 10 minutes.

"We really needed something positive to happen to us and that would have been it. But we showed that we can go on the road and play with the team picked to finish third in the league."

That's the outlook junior center Drew DeMond chose to take from the contest, as disappointing as the ending was.

"We're inexperienced and we lost our composure," DeMond said. "But we can take a lot from the game. I think we showed that we can play with anybody in the conference."

Shot at wins

On paper at least, the Indians would appear to have a shot at picking up a conference win or two this week, particularly if they play like they did for the majority of the game at Eastern Illinois.

In the OVC preseason poll, Tennessee State was picked to finish last while Eastern Kentucky was tabbed for eighth in the nine-team league as both teams have struggled in recent years.

Of course, no squad has struggled more than the Indians so far this season as their only two victories have come over Division II programs.

"This is a really big week for us," Garner said. "We've got a chance to do something at home against some teams we feel like we can compete with. But no games are going to be easy for us. They're all going to be a struggle."

Tennessee State will come to town riding high after Saturday's 69-68 comeback victory at Eastern Kentucky. The Tigers erased a nine-point deficit over the final nine minutes to snap a six-game losing streak.

"After their big win, they'll be sky high," said Garner. "We have to get back up after our tough loss and we'll really have to work at it."

Rolston leads way

Kyle Rolston, a 6-foot-4 senior forward, is the Tigers' leading scorer at nearly 14 points per game. Also averaging in double figures are 6-4 sophomore guard Garrett Richardson and 6-3 junior guard Josh Copperwood, both at around 13 points a contest.

In the win over Eastern Kentucky, Copperwood led the way with 16 points, 6-6 freshman forward Roshaun Bowens had 15 and Richardson added 14.

For Southeast Saturday, DeMond scored 18 points, Kenny Johnson had 17 and Tim Scheer 11.

The Indians also got, for the second straight game, a solid performance off the bench from senior forward Monte Gordon, who hit all four of his field-goal attempts and scored eight points while showing considerable muscle underneath the basket..

Gordon, Southeast's lone senior, has been slowed the past two years by a racing heart and he has only seen action in the past three games this season.

"Monte continues to get better and he's given us a lift the last two games," Garner said.

Freshman guard Brett Hale led the Indian rebounders against Eastern Illinois with eight.

Special promotions

Thursday's game will include Cape Central High School Night, with all Central students and faculty being admitted free with an ID.

Saturday's contest will feature Kerry Robinson Night to honor the former Southeast baseball star who plays for the St. Louis Cardinals. Robinson baseball cards will go to the first 500 children and there will be an autograph session at 6:45 p.m.