INDIANS, OTAHKIANS PURSUE SPLITS ON 1ST OVC TRIP OF SEASON

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee State's Tigers do not currently resemble the basketball team that was picked to finish second in the Ohio Valley Conference this year.

Due to a variety of factors, the Tigers have only one player with any considerable previous experience in a TSU uniform.

But Southeast Missouri State University coach Ron Shumate still expects the Tigers to be extremely formidable in tonight's 7:45 OVC game at the Gentry Complex.

"They're good and it's a difficult place to play," said Shumate. "It will be a big challenge for us."

Both squads opened their OVC schedules with losses Saturday.

The Indians (3-9 overall) got 31 points from Bud Eley but suffered a 96-85 setback at Austin Peay. The Govs' Bubba Wells, in his first game back from an injury, poured in 39 points.

The Tigers (2-7) were upset at home 73-71 by Eastern Illinois.

Missing from TSU's lineup tonight will be 6-foot-5 senior Monty Wilson, an all-conference performer last year. Wilson averaged 20 points in his first two games this season but reaggravated a stress fracture in his foot and will be out until later this month.

TSU's leading scorer besides Wilson is 6-8 sophomore center Jason Johnson, who averages 15.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Johnson is the lone returning starter who will be playing for the Tigers tonight.

Also averaging in double figures for the Tigers are twin freshmen Kevin and Keith Samuel, at 11.5 and 10.9 points per game, respectively.

Point guard Kareem Gilbert, a junior-college transfer, leads the OVC with 7.8 assists per game.

"They play extremely hard and they have a real good point guard," Shumate said. "We would have liked to get both of the games on this trip. But if we can come out of it with a split, that would be good."

Eley leads the Indians offensively at 15.6 points per game. Also scoring in double figures is Calvert White (13.2 ppg).

TSU won both meetings with Southeast last year, including a 76-73 decision in Nashville.

Otahkians try to bounce back

Southeast's women, coming off an 86-58 pounding by Austin Peay in their league opener, will try to bounce back with a 5:30 contest tonight at TSU.

The Otahkians (2-6) got 20 points from freshman guard Sarah Frazier but nobody else had more than eight points.

TSU (4-4) opened OVC play by hammering Eastern Illinois 86-64. Connie Swift, who sat out last season, scored 29 points while transfer Cari Hassell added 26.

"They have a really good inside-outside combination with Swift and Hassell," said Southeast coach Ed Arnzen. "It's going to be a difficult game for us."