Indians take 2-0 start on the road

Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball team has used the friendly confines of home to build an early 2-0 record.

Now the Indians will see how they react to their first road test of the season -- and coach Gary Garner is anxious to find out.

The Indians are in Missoula, Mont., for this weekend's four-team University of Montana Tournament. They play the host Grizzlies (1-1) at about 8:30 p.m. tonight, following a 6:30 p.m. game between California-Santa Barbara (1-0) and St. Mary's of California (2-1).

Sunday's third-place game is set for 6:30 p.m., with the title contest at 8:30.

"It's our first road trip. It's new to a lot of kids. Some of them haven't been on a plane before," Garner said. "Then you throw in that we'll be in a hostile environment, playing the home team in the first round in front of a big crowd. I'm looking forward to see how we handle everything."

Montana went 13-17 last season but finished third in the Big Sky Conference. With three returning starters and a recruiting class considered the league's best, the Grizzlies of coach Pat Kennedy -- who has taken eight teams to the NCAA Tournament at DePaul, Florida State and Iona -- have been picked to win the Big Sky by Athlon magazine.

"Montana has a good team," said junior guard Brett Hale, who led the Indians with 18 points during Monday's 83-51 rout of Kentucky Christian. "It's going to be a really good tournament for us to see where we're at and what we need to work on."

Cal-Santa Barbara is coming off an 18-14 season that saw them win the Big West Conference title. With four returning starters, the Gauchos are favorites to repeat as Big West champions.

St. Mary's was 15-15 last year and fifth in the West Coast Conference, but with three returning regulars the Gaels are predicted to move up the standings.

Montana, tonight's opponent, returns its second- and third-leading scorers from last year in 6-foot-2 sophomore guard Kevin Criswell and 6-6 senior forward Steve Horn, who averaged 15.1 and 11.5 points per game, respectively.

Among three newcomers who have broken into the Grizzlies' starting lineup is 6-2 junior guard Roy Booker, a former Portageville High School standout who starred at Allen County (Kan.) Community College the last two years.

"Montana has an excellent team and, playing them on their floor, we're really going to have to play a great game to have a chance," Garner said.

But the Indians aren't conceding anything.

"Whenever you go to a tournament like this, you always want to win at least one game," Garner said. "It won't be easy for us to win a game, but we're not going in with the idea we want to split. We're going in with the idea we can win the tournament."