INDIANS SET FOR EXHIBITION TEST; SEMO TAKES ON THE DREAMBUILDERS TONIGHT

It won't count on his team's record, but Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner figures tonight's exhibition opener against the Dreambuilders will still be extremely important.

With just a little more than a week left to go before the season opener, Garner knows that the Indians' two exhibition games will go a long way toward determining just how sharp Southeast is to begin the campaign.

Tonight's tipoff at the Show Me Center is set for 7:30. The Indians will have their final exhibition game Monday night when a team from Bulgaria comes to Cape Girardeau.

Then it will be on to games that count on the record -- starting with a Nov. 14 home contest against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

"These two exhibition games will be important to us, no question about it," said Garner. "We'll learn a lot more about ourselves (tonight)."

The Indians beat the Dreambuilders, a team made up of former collegiate players, 97-80 in an exhibition contest last year during Garner's first season at Southeast.

"I think they'll be a lot better than they were last year," said Garner. "It should be a good test for us."

Southeast went 14-13 in Garner's debut season as the Indians' coach last year. That record included a 10-8 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference, good for fifth place in the 10-team league.

Garner has high hopes for this season -- fueled by several key returning players and some talented newcomers.

Tonight's probable starting lineup will include the top returning scorers from a year ago: 6-foot-10 senior center Bud Eley (15 points per game) and 6-foot senior guard Cory Johnson (14.5 ppg).

Eley is the OVC preseason Player of the Year while Johnson was one of the nation's premier 3-point shooters last season.

Three newcomers are likely to start tonight: 6-6 junior forwards Roderick Johnson and Mike Branson and 5-11 sophomore guard Jeramy Biles at the point.

Johnson practiced with the Indians last year but could not play in games after transferring from Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Branson was a junior-college All-American at Meramec in St. Louis last year.

Biles, a former Charleston High standout, also practiced but did not play in games last year after transferring from Saint Louis University.

"Roderick has really improved his ball skills out on the floor. He's a really dangerous inside player who rebounds very well and can score around the basket," said Garner. "Mike is really coming along. He's one of our best athletes as far as running and jumping.

"Jeramy is doing very well. He's a true leader on the floor and he gets the ball where it needs to be. He's also a really tenacious defender."

The other double-figure scorer back from last year, senior guard Kahn Cotton (12.2 ppg), is questionable for tonight as he continues to be plagued by tendon problems in his knees.

Senior forward Demetrius Watson (8.8 ppg) has missed quite a bit of practice time with a concussion but returned to the court this week and will play tonight.

Other returners from last season are sophomore guards Nathan Owen (5.3 ppg) and Matt Morris (2.5 ppg).

"Nathan and Matt have really improved from last season," Garner said. "They might be our two most improved players."

Garner will also be counting on 6-8 junior newcomer Brian Bunche, a rugged inside player who came to the Indians from Southwest Missouri-West Plains Junior College.

"Brian is a big, strong player who really rebounds well," said Garner. "He's doing a good job."

Guard Fred Abraham is the only freshman scholarship player for the Indians.

"It's always tough for a freshman," Garner said. "Fred is in the learning process but he'll really be a good player for us."

The Dreambuilders, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, feature former players from a variety of colleges, including three from Drake, two from Iowa State and two from Northwest Missouri State.

INDIAN NOTES: There are a number of good Booster Club seats in the lower level of the Show Me Center that are available for season ticket purchase.

The available seats will be tagged tonight and available for sale. Fans who do not have season tickets will have the opportunity to look over the available seats.

Dreambuilders at SEMO

7:30 p.m., Show Me Center

(Exhibition)

Probable Starters

SEMO

Player Pos. Ht.

Mike Branson F 6-6

Roderick Johnson F 6-6

Bud Eley C 6-10

Cory Johnson G 6-0

Jeramy Biles G 5-11

Dreambuilders

Player Pos. Ht.

Sam Powell F 6-7

B.J. Windhorst F 6-4

Ken Maxey C 6-10

Jacy Holloway G 6-1

Terry Woods G 5-10

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