NAIA opponent perfect fix for Southeast men's skid

~ The Redhawks host Hannibal-LaGrange at 4 p.m. Saturday

A basketball team can't afford to take anything for granted when it's 0-10.

So expect Southeast Missouri State to give Saturday's opponent plenty of respect even though it would be a big upset if the Redhawks don't notch their first win.

Hannibal-LaGrange, an NAIA program from Hannibal, Mo., visits the Show Me Center for a 4 p.m. tipoff.

The Trojans were 4-8 before Thursday night's game and will be decisive underdogs against the Redhawks, who have suffered 18 straight losses dating back to last season.

Southeast fell to 0-10 with Wednesday's 83-68 setback at Southern Illinois-Carbondale that ended a string of four games in seven days for the Redhawks.

"I don't think this team is going to be guilty of taking anybody lightly," Southeast coach Dickey Nutt said.

Hannibal-LaGrange went 11-17 last year, including a fourth-place 6-8 in the eight-team American Midwest Conference. The Trojans were picked sixth in the AMC preseason poll. They have not yet played a league game.

"We better lace 'em up. We're starving for some success," Nutt said.

Despite the Redhawks' struggles, Nutt continues to be pleased by their effort and believes success is just around the corner.

"I do feel like good things will happen for this basketball team if they'll stay with it," Nutt said.

Junior college transfer guard/forward Nate Schulte, who scored a season-high 20 points at SIU, said the Redhawks remain confident.

"We haven't won yet, but I feel like we're moving in the right direction," Schulte said. "Coach always says winning is contagious. We're really hungry for it [the first win].

"We're going to keep working. We're looking forward to Saturday."

Following Saturday's contest, Southeast has a break for finals next week before resuming Ohio Valley Conference play Dec. 19 at Jacksonville State.

The Redhawks are 0-2 in the OVC, losing to Austin Peay and Tennessee State in a pair of home games.