INJURIES HAVE INDIANS ON A `ROLE'

Southeast Missouri State University basketball coach Gary Garner emphasizes that his team certainly misses its two injured players, center Bud Eley and forward Demetrius Watson, who were averaging a combined 25 points and 12 rebounds a contest before going down.

But you sure can't tell it by the way the Indians are performing.

In the three games Southeast has played without Eley (broken foot) and Watson (broken toe), the Indians have gone 3-0 with an average victory margin of 21 points while averaging more than 90 points a contest.

Also during that span, the Indians -- sporting a three-guard lineup that makes them more mobile and much more effective from the outside -- have scorched the nets for better than 50 percent 3-point shooting (42 of 82) and 56 percent field-goal shooting overall.

"Naturally we'd rather have Bud and Demetrius in the lineup because they're two of our better players," said Garner Tuesday morning, not all that long after the Indians' impressive 81-57 win at Austin Peay Monday night. "But every player right down the line is really accepting their role and doing whatever we ask them.

"Being without Bud, we really haven't changed anything. We're emphasizing Kahn (Cotton) to push the ball and for Cory (Johnson) and Nathan (Owen) to spot up. We're asking Calvert (White) to slash and find Kahn, Cory and Nathan spotting up outside."

Asked if he is surprised the Indians have played so well without two of their prime-time performers, Garner did not hesitate.

"I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said I thought we could go to Austin Peay without those two players and win by 24," he said. "But one of the sayings we have goes like this: `Isn't it wonderful what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit.'

"I think this team kind of typifies that. It's such an unselfish group and it has been all year."

The Indians have been getting impressive performances from a host of players during their current three-game winning streak.

Johnson, a junior guard who leads the Ohio Valley Conference in free-throw percentage (87.3) and 3-pointers per game (3.8), has been absolutely on fire, hitting 17 of 27 3-pointers in the last three contests.

Johnson averages a team-high 15.1 points per game and is seventh nationally in 3-pointers per game. With 79 three-pointers on the season, he is almost certain to break the school record of 86 held by Curtis Shelton.

"Cory is just shooting the lights out," Garner said. "And the impressive thing is, a lot of the looks he's getting are not wide open."

Cotton, the Indians' point guard, has been equally impressive. The junior has also been sizzling from 3-point range, with 10 of 17 over the last three games, and he's been running the team expertly, with plenty of assists and few turnovers.

"Kahn has been doing a great job of penetrating and finding the open man and he's also shooting so well," said Garner. "Our two guards are really giving us a scoring threat."

David Montgomery, playing center now instead of forward after Eley went down, has been a major force inside, averaging 18 points and shooting 70 percent from the field in the last three games. The 6-foot-8 junior leads the OVC in field-goal percentage (62.5).

"David is really finding his stride," said Garner. "He's passing when he should and shooting when he should."

Senior forward Calvert White, while not scoring big lately, has 21 assists and 19 rebounds in the last three games.

"Calvert is doing so many things for us," Garner said.

And the fifth starter, freshman guard Nathan Owen, sure hasn't been playing like a freshman. The former Cape Central High all-stater has been in double figures in each of the last three games and is shooting better than 40 percent on 3-pointers in his last six contests.

"For a freshman, Nathan is just really playing well," said Garner.

The Indians have also been getting solid minutes off the bench from senior guard Lakeo Keller, senior forward Travis Smith, junior guard Dewayne Saulsberry and freshman walkon guard Matt Morris.

"Lakeo is playing much better and Matt has really given us a lift for a walkon," Garner said.

By winning the last three games, the Indians (11-10, 7-6 OVC) have moved into fourth place in the 10-team league. That's important because the top four finishers earn first-round home games in the league tournament.

"There's still a lot of games (five) left and we could still finish sixth or seventh," cautioned Garner. "But beating Austin Peay at least gives us a good chance at it (finishing fourth)."

* The Indians will leave this morning for a two-game road trip, playing Tennessee Tech Thursday night and Middle Tennessee Saturday afternoon.

Tech (6-17, 2-10) is tied for last in the OVC while Middle (16-4, 10-2) was tied for first before Tuesday's play.

* While Eley is definitely out for the season, Watson could return soon.

Garner said Watson is scheduled to have his injured toe x-rayed today and, if things check out fine, he could play Thursday.

"If the doctor says he's okay, he'll play some Thursday," said Garner.

* Saturday's 1 p.m. game at Middle Tennessee will be televised by KFVS.