Matchup with Bears filled with opportunities

I'm excited about Saturday night's game with state rival Southwest Missouri State at the Show Me Center. It should be a great college basketball game between two teams that have a long history of great games.

I remember when I was growing up in West Plains there were always great games between the Indians and Bears when both teams were Division II and playing in the MIAA. Now that both teams are in Division I, we have renewed the rivalry and plan to play every year. Two years ago we won the matchup at the Show Me Center and last year the Bears won in Springfield.

It is a good, healthy rivalry that will be televised in the Springfield area. It is a game between two rival conferences, the Ohio Valley and Missouri Valley, and between two state schools. Pride is on the line, as is an edge in the recruiting wars since we recruit many of the same players.

Southwest Missouri has had an up-and-down season much like us. They beat St. Louis at the Savvis Center but lost in overtime at Kent State. They beat Arkansas State in Springfield Tuesday night and will come to the Show Me Center fired up after the overtime win.

This is big for us because we need to be playing well when the OVC season begins on Jan. 4 and our next game will be against undefeated and nationally ranked Creighton on Dec. 29 in Omaha, Neb.

Since last week's column, we gained an important road win at Missouri-Kansas City, but lost at Arkansas-Little Rock.

The win at UMKC was good because it was on the road and because we showed poise to hold off several runs they made in the second half. We controlled the game, but all teams playing at home make runs and UMKC made three in the second half. Each time we kept our poise, made a play and held them off.

I was proud of the way our team handled the game. Damarcus Hence and Derek Winans both shot well against their zone defense and Demetrius King came off the bench to hit a couple of big 3-pointers late in the game.

Brett Hale suffered a back injury during a collision with Michael Watson, the nation's leading scorer. Brett did a great job of keeping Watson in check until he had to leave with the injury that kept him out of the Arkansas-Little Rock game. Hopefully, Brett will be able to play Saturday against SMS.

At Arkansas-Little Rock we just did not shoot the ball well. We missed a lot of good looks in the first half and even missed a couple of layups.

Still, against a very good team that is of the same caliber as a Southern Illinois, we trailed only 26-22 late in the first half when point guard Kevin Roberts went down with a foot injury. UALR built the lead to seven at the half and then used their great athletes to build on the lead in the second half. Our team played hard, but we just didn't shoot well.

The injuries are disappointing. Reggie Golson is still not able to play because of sore knees, Hale has the back injury and Roberts the foot injury. Roberts will be out from eight to 13 days and will not play against SMS and I doubt Golson will play against the Bears. Hale may see limited action and we need him because we are depleted at guard.

True freshman Cole Grapperhaus has given us quality minutes in the last two games, but he is hurting with a back injury he suffered in a fall on the ice a couple of weeks ago. His back is bothering him and he may not be available Saturday night.

Despite the injuries, we will show up at the Show Me Center Saturday night and I hope to see you there. It should be a great game.

On behalf of our entire team and staff, we wish you all a very happy holiday season.

Gary Garner is the men's basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State University