Injured pair may be OK by opener

The injury bug continues to plague Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball team as the Indians prepare for Friday night's season opener against visiting Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Junior forward Dainmon Gonner, the leading scorer in Southeast's two exhibition games, missed practice Sunday with a strained groin.

Junior guard/forward Norman Prather, who missed Southeast's exhibition opener with a sprained ankle but scored 11 points in the final exhibition game, reinjured the ankle during practice Sunday.

Southeast coach Gary Garner does not anticipate either injury being serious and is hopeful Gonner and Prather can return to practice today (Southeast did not practice Monday). Both are probable for Friday's game.

The Indians will play Friday without junior forward Reggie Golson, who is expected to miss at least another week with an ankle injury that already has sidelined him several weeks.

"The injuries really concern me," Garner said. "I don't think anybody has an injury that will keep them out long, but they're missing so much practice time, and it really hurts with the new players."

Gonner, Prather and Golson are junior-college transfers who did not play at Southeast last season, although Gonner and Golson practiced with the Indians.

Meanwhile, Garner said Monday that freshman Terrick Willoughby -- who has been impressive in the preseason -- is making a bid to start at point guard Friday.

"He'll probably start, depending on how he practices this week," Garner said.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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