INDIANS WARY OF MOREHEAD STATE

As far as Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Gary Garner is concerned, tonight's game against Morehead State looms as an extremely dangerous one for the Indians.

Sure, most Southeast fans might snicker and wonder why Garner is worrying about Morehead State.

After all, the Eagles went just 3-23 last year, finished last in the 10-team Ohio Valley Conference and were the overwhelming preseason choice to occupy the OVC cellar again this season.

But, as Garner is quick to point out, these are certainly not the same Eagles. Second-year coach Kyle Macy, the former Kentucky All-American, has Morehead on the upswing.

The Eagles have already won more games than they did all of last season. They'll carry a 4-7 overall record, including a 1-2 conference mark, into tonight's 7:30 tipoff at the Show Me Center.

"They're really an improved team over last year," said Garner. "They've been playing well and they might rank as one of the big surprise teams in the league so far.

"This is the kind of game that really scares you. There is no way we can afford to take them lightly and I don't think we will."

Garner's Indians are no doubt happy to be getting back into conference play. The Indians have lost three straight games -- all out of the league -- to fall to 6-5 overall.

But Southeast is tied for first place in the OVC at 3-0, the same record as league favorite and defending champion Murray State.

"It's disappointing that we've lost three games in a row, but we lost to three good basketball teams," said Garner of the recent defeats -- all away from home -- to Southwest Missouri, Southern Illinois and Oklahoma State.

"Now we get back into conference play and that's all we have the rest of the way."

Wednesday's 75-64 loss to nationally-ranked Oklahoma State in Stillwater still should serve as a confidence boost for the Indians. They led by two points at halftime and were tied with the potent Cowboys with eight minutes left.

"I thought it was our best game of the season, even though we lost," Garner said. "I was really proud of the effort we gave. Hopefully we can pick up right where we left off."

Morehead State is coming off a tough 86-82 loss at Eastern Illinois Saturday night.

The Eagles feature a new-look team that leads the OVC in 3-point field-goal percentage at about 37 percent while also ranking first in assists and steals and second in turnover margin.

Morehead State's top four scorers are all newcomers, led by Erik Brown, a 6-foot-5 freshman forward who is averaging about 19 points per game. Brown ranks third in OVC scoring.

The Eagles' three other double-figure scorers are junior-college transfers: 6-3 guard Brad Cleaver (14 ppg), 6-4 guard Brett Bohanan (14 ppg) and 6-7 forward Scott Charity (12 ppg).

Cleaver is shooting better than 50 percent from 3-point range while Bohanan is hitting more than 40 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.

Only Brown among the aforementioned players is listed as one of tonight's probable starters, but all figure to see extensive action.

Southeast counters with a strong inside-outside attack, led by senior center Bud Eley and junior forward Roderick Johnson.

Eley is averaging 14.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, the last figure leading the OVC. He is also second in OVC field-goal shooting at 59 percent while leading the league in blocked shots with 27.

Johnson is scoring 11.5 points a contest and is the OVC's top field-goal shooter at a sizzling 64 percent.

Junior forward Mike Branson and senior guard Cory Johnson are both contributing 10.6 points an outing and are among the better 3-point shooters in the league. Branson, in fact, has moved up to second among OVC long-range shooters at 45 percent. Johnson leads the league in free-throw shooting at 93 percent.

As a team, the Indians lead the OVC in scoring defense, allowing 62.9 points per game.

The Indians have not played a home game since Dec. 10. Garner knows the Indians can't wait to get back in front of their fans once again -- and he knows how important it is for them to protect their own turf if they expect to remain a factor in the OVC race.

"It's been a long time since we've played at home and we're looking forward to it," he said. "It's a big game for us, as they all are from here on out. It's really important that we protect our home court if we want to have a chance in the conference."

Following tonight's game, the Indians will again hit the road for a pair of contests, facing Middle Tennessee Thursday and Tennessee Tech Saturday. But after that, seven of Southeast's final 12 regular-season games are at home.

INDIAN NOTES: Senior forward Demetrius Watson will make his second straight start in place of R. Johnson, who will once again come off the bench early and see extensive action.

Junior reserve forward/center Brian Bunche continues to be bothered by an ankle sprain suffered almost a month ago. Despite the injury, Bunche has played briefly in the past several games.

MOREHEAD STATE AT SEMO

7:30 p.m., Show Me Center.

Probable Starters

SEMO (6-5, 3-0 OVC)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Mike Branson F Jr. 6-6 10.6

Demetrius Watson F Sr. 6-4 4.5

Bud Eley C Sr. 6-10 14.4

Cory Johnson G Sr. 6-0 10.6

Kahn Cotton G Sr. 5-10 7.0

MSU (1-2, 4-7)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Erik Brown F Fr. 6-5 19.1

Kyle Umberger F Fr. 6-7 5.6

DeWayne Krom C So. 6-9 7.2

Ted Docks G Sr. 5-8 4.5

Jeramy Webb G Jr. 6-0 5.1

Series: 7-7

Last meeting: SEMO won 99-79 last season

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