INDIANS STUMBLE ON BIG 12 COWBOYS; SOUTHEAST VISITS OKLAHOMA STATE TONIGHT

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Talk about jumping from the frying pan right into the fire.

That's the situation facing Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team tonight.

The Indians started off their road excursion by being destroyed 70-49 by Southern Illinois Monday night in the Earth Grains Classic at the Trans World Dome in St. Louis.

Tonight, Southeast will face arguably its most talented opponent of the season -- nationally ranked Oklahoma State. The tipoff at Gallagher-Iba Arena is set for 7:05.

OSU is ranked 21st in the USA Today-ESPN Poll and 25th by The Associated Press. The Cowboys, picked by many to win the Big 12 Conference title this season, have a 7-3 record.

"I don't think there is any question that Oklahoma State is the best team on our schedule," said Southeast coach Gary Garner. "They are just extremely talented with a lot of tremendous athletes."

Having a shot at pulling off an upset against the Cowboys would be extremely difficult under any circumstances for the Indians.

But now Garner has to hope his team is able to bounce back well from Monday's miserable performance in St. Louis. The Indians are 6-4 and have lost two straight.

"We just have to put that one out of our mind," said Garner. "I don't think there's any question it was our poorest game of the season. You have a couple like that every year. You don't know when they'll come, but that was one of ours."

Another factor working against the Indians as they shoot for a monumental upset is the fact that the Cowboys have already suffered an extremely shocking loss this season to unheralded Florida Atlantic. That defeat broke an 81-game home winning streak for OSU against nonconference foes.

"After what happened in that game, I don't think there's any chance Oklahoma State will take us lightly," Garner said. "I'm sure they'll be really ready to play."

The Cowboys, directed by veteran coach Eddie Sutton -- who has a 616-244 record in his 29th season on the collegiate level -- are not a very tall team but they have a host of versatile athletes who are capable of playing all over the floor.

Leading the way for the Cowboys offensively is 6-foot-4 senior Adrian Peterson, who is averaging 19.7 points per game. He is shooting 44 percent from 3-point range (26 of 59).

Desmond Mason, a 6-6 junior who is a spectacular leaper, is second in scoring at 16.3 points per game and he also pulls down a team-high 8.1 rebounds a contest.

OSU has two other double-figure scorers, including 6-2 junior Joe Adkins (13.5 ppg), who is hitting 42 percent of his 3-point attempts (25 of 60).

Glendon Alexander, a 6-5 junior who recently became eligible after transferring from Arkansas, contributes 12.8 points per game.

The Cowboys also have an exceptional playmaking point guard in 6-1 junior Doug Gottlieb, who is averaging nine assists per game.

OSU's tallest starter is 6-10 junior Alex Webber. He scores six points a contest.

"They've got a lot of great players," said Garner. "It's going to be a huge challenge for our team."

Garner will be hoping the Indians can improve their shooting stroke tonight. They shot a miserable 36 percent against SIU and were generally lethargic in most areas.

"We just weren't ready to play," Garner said. "We better be ready to play (tonight) or we'll be in big trouble."

Tonight's game will mark the first-ever meeting between Southeast and OSU.

SEMO at Oklahoma State

7:05 p.m., Stillwater, Okla.

Probable Starters

SEMO (6-4)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Mike Branson F Jr. 6-6 10.1

Roderick Johnson F Jr. 6-6 11.7

Bud Eley C Sr. 6-10 14.4

Cory Johnson G Sr. 6-0 9.9

Kahn Cotton G Sr. 5-10 8.0

OSU (7-4)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Adrian Peterson F Sr. 6-4 19.7

Desmond Mason F Jr. 6-6 16.3

Alex Webber C Jr. 6-10 6.0

Joe Adkins G Jr. 6-2 13.5

Glendon Alexander G Jr. 6-5 12.8

Series: First meeting

Radio: K102.9-FM