MOREHEAD FIRST TEST FOR SE ON `DEADLY' OHIO VALLEY ROAD TRIP

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team has certainly experienced its share of pain over the years during the 'Death Valley' road trip in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The annual two-game excursion to eastern Kentucky mountain country to face Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky is known around the OVC as 'Death Valley.'

For the Indians, that trip has been extra tough since they joined the OVC seven years ago.

Not only is it by far Southeast's longest and most grueling trip of the conference season -- Morehead is about 400 miles from Cape Girardeau, which means plenty of bus time -- but the Indians are a combined 1-11 on the two stops.

Southeast is 1-5 at Morehead and 0-6 at Eastern since joining the OVC. Today the Indians will try to start bucking that trend when they face Morehead in a 2 p.m. tipoff. Southeast plays Eastern Monday night.

"It's a big road trip for us," said Southeast head coach Gary Garner.

Garner, of course, has not been a part of the Indians' futility in 'Death Valley' because he is in his first season at Southeast. And he hasn't even brought up the subject to his players.

"We (Southeast's staff) thought about it and decided not to tell them," Garner said.

Although the Indians (5-5 overall, 1-1 OVC) have been hit hard by injury problems, now appears to be as good a time as any to start finding some success on this trip.

Morehead (1-9 overall, 0-2 OVC) and Eastern (1-8, 0-2) are regarded as two of the weakest teams in the 10-team OVC and both have struggled big-time so far.

Of course, Garner realizes how tough it is to win on the road in college basketball no matter who the opponent is.

"These are two games that are definitely winnable for us," said Garner. "When we lost at home to Tennessee State earlier in the year, I said that we had to go out on the road and get one back, maybe have a 2-0 road trip.

"This would be a perfect time to do that. But everybody is going to play really tough at home, especially in the conference. We'll have to be prepared for their best performances."

Making matters especially difficult for the Indians is the uncertain status of 6-foot-8 junior David Montgomery, who sprained an ankle during Monday's loss at Louisville.

Montgomery's ankle has progressed well and he practiced well Friday. He should be able to see plenty of action today.

The Indians are already without 6-10 senior Bud Eley, who broke his foot on Dec. 11. Eley remains sidelined for at least a few more games.

"We didn't have a whole lot of depth inside to begin with," said Garner. "When Bud got hurt, that was a big blow but our guys have responded pretty well.

"David hurting his ankle was another blow, but he looked good (during Friday's practice). Hopefully he'll be ready to go (today)."

Another ailing Southeast player is junior guard Cory Johnson, who has been experiencing back spasms but should be able to go today.

Like Southeast, Morehead is under the direction of a first-year coach, former Kentucky All-American and NBA player Kyle Macy, a state icon who hopes to eventually turn the program around

It could happen, but not this year. The Eagles are thin on talent and they have struggled, albeit against a rugged schedule.

Morehead has lost to the likes of Kentucky, Louisville, Cincinnati and North Carolina State outside the conference and their OVC losses were to Murray State and Tennessee-Martin.

The Eagles, who have played just two home games, surprised Marshall at home for their only victory to date.

"You don't really know about them because of the schedule they've played," Garner said. "They've played some really good teams. And they've played those teams tough at times."

That happened Wednesday, when the Eagles led North Carolina State at halftime before losing 63-41.

Morehead suffered a blow just this week when leading scorer Hezzie Boone (9.1 points per game) quit the team.

Five other Eagles average between six and nine points per game: 6-9 junior Luke Lloyd (9.0), 6-8 freshman Dewayne Krom (7.6), 6-5 sophomore Jeremy Webb (7.4), 6-7 senior Chris Stone (7.0) and 6-3 freshman Aaron Knight (6.9).

INDIAN NOTES: Freshman reserve guard Nathan Owen made the trip but he won't play in either game after being suspended by Garner for violating team policy.

Owen, who will be allowed to play Thursday when the Indians host Tennessee Tech, was charged earlier this week with driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident...

Seldom-used walk-on guard Aron Rauls has left the team for personal reasons. Another little-used walk-on guard, Darko Babic, also recently left the squad because he plans to transfer to another school.

SEMO at Morehead State

2 p.m., Morehead, Ky.

Probable Starters

SEMO (5-5)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Calvert White F Sr. 6-4 10.0

Demetrius Watson F Jr. 6-4 7.4

David Montgomery C Jr. 6-8 10.4

Cory Johnson G Jr. 6-0 12.7

Kahn Cotton G Jr. 5-10 13.2

MSU (1-9)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Chris Stone F Sr. 6-7 7.4

Jeremy Webb F So. 6-5 7.6

DeWayne Krom C Fr. 6-8 7.3

Thomas Jenkins G Fr. 6-4 2.9

Ted Docks G Jr. 5-8 5.1

Series: MSU leads 7-5

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