OVC-leading Redhawks visit Tulsa

~ Southeast men follow two thrilling one-point OVC victories with a big nonconference challenge.

TULSA, Okla. -- It has already been a sensational road trip for the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team.

No matter what happens today, that won't change.

But an upset win at Tulsa would sure be a nice bonus for the Redhawks as they step out of Ohio Valley Conference play for the 4 p.m. tipoff.

The Redhawks are riding high after posting two OVC victories this week, 63-62 at Samford on Tuesday night and 81-80 at Jacksonville State on Thursday night.

Those wins lifted Southeast to a 4-0 OVC record, matching the program's best conference start since the 1999-2000 NCAA tournament squad won its first four league games.

"It's a great start to the conference season for us," Southeast coach Scott Edgar said.

Not only great, but ultra-thrilling as the Redhawks won both games this week on last-second shots.

Against Samford, sophomore guard Jimmy Drew hit a 3-pointer with 1 second remaining, after Southeast trailed by 14 points in the second half.

Then freshman center Will Bogan took the spotlight as his short put-back with 1.9 seconds left beat Jacksonville State, after the Redhawks led by 20 points in the first half but trailed by five points with under 4 minutes to play.

"Both these games, winning by one point, with two different players hitting big shots," Bogan said. "It's kind of going our way now.

"We just want to keep it up."

If the Redhawks keep it up today, they'll have to get by without Bogan, who scored a team-high 17 points off the bench Thursday.

While the Southeast travel party flew from Atlanta to Tulsa on Friday, Bogan caught a flight to St. Louis so he can attend today's funeral for his grandfather, who recently passed away.

Southeast also could be without starting senior wing player David Johnson, after he missed the Jacksonville State contest with an ankle injury.

Senior forward Brandon Foust said the Redhawks would love to pull off an upset against a Conference USA opponent.

The Redhawks, 8-4 overall, have posted four straight victories and would relish returning from their week-long road trip -- they'll bus back to Cape Girardeau following today's game -- with that streak extended.

"We think this is a game to make our statement," Foust said. "We don't think people are respecting us enough. Beating a team from a conference like this would be big for us."

Tulsa (5-4) has won three straight. The Golden Hurricane, 20-11 last year, are picked to finish fifth in the 12-team Conference USA. They have yet to play a league game.

The Golden Hurricane are led offensively by 6-foot-3 sophomore guard Ben Uzoh at 15.9 points per game.

No other Tulsa player is averaging in double figures, but six more players are scoring at least six points a game.

Tulsa returned 70 percent of its scoring from last season.

"They'll be a talented, experienced team from a high-level conference," said Edgar, who was an assistant coach at Tulsa for five seasons (1980 through 1985).

Under Nolan Richardson, who Edgar later followed to Arkansas, Edgar helped lead Tulsa to three NCAA tournament appearances and the 1981 NIT title.

Considering that the Redhawks are no doubt fatigued from all the travel and will be shorthanded today, beating Tulsa figures to be a tall task.

"It will be a really difficult game for us because we're not playing with a full deck and Tulsa is a good team," Edgar said. "I know the guys have got to be worn out. I don't know how their legs are going to be.

"No matter what happens, it's been a great trip. We'll give it our best shot, and hopefully we won't get anybody hurt."

Following today's contest, the Redhawks will have a few days off for Christmas before they return to practice in preparation for a Dec. 30 nonconference home game against Central Methodist.

OVC play resumes for the Redhawks Jan. 2 at home against defending league tournament champion Eastern Kentucky.

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