Redhawks hope hard luck stays behind

~ Southeast looks to end a three-game losing streak today at Iowa State.

As heartbreaking as things have been for Southeast Missouri State in recent Ohio Valley Conference home games, maybe a change of scenery -- and a step out of conference -- is what the Redhawks need.

They'll find out today as they shoot for a road upset of a Big 12 Conference program with a 1 p.m. tipoff at Iowa State (7-5), a school they've never before faced on the court.

"We have to grab some momentum for the rest of the season and this would be a good place to start," Southeast senior guard Terrick Willoughby said.

The Redhawks, riding a three-game losing streak -- all in conference play -- certainly don't have any momentum right now. But they've been ever so close to gaining some.

A two-game OVC homestand began Sunday when Jacksonville State threw in a 3-point shot from just inside mid-court with less than one second remaining to beat Southeast 70-67.

Then it was Samford's turn to break the Redhawks' hearts Tuesday night, as the Bulldogs made a shot from in close with two seconds left for a 65-64 win.

Throw in a three-point loss at Tennessee State on Dec. 7 and Southeast has suffered three of its four OVC defeats by a total of seven points.

"We're so close to being at the top" of the conference standings, Willoughby said.

Instead, the Redhawks (3-9, 1-4) are tied for last place in the 11-team league, although they still have 15 conference games remaining.

"We keep getting better," Southeast first-year coach Scott Edgar said. "I told the players that this is a one-bid league [for the NCAA tournament]. The most important thing is how you finish.

"I know with the youth that we have, there is no team in the league with as much room for improvement as we have."

The Redhawks will be hard-pressed to end their losing streak any time soon because their next two contests are "guarantee" games against teams from major conferences.

After playing Iowa State today, the Redhawks visit Purdue of the Big 10 Conference on Dec. 30.

Those two programs are paying Southeast a total of about $105,000, with the money going toward the university's general athletic department revenue.

The Redhawks began the season with a 92-52 loss at Southeastern Conference member Arkansas -- which paid Southeast about $65,000.

"It's another challenge for us," Edgar said of today's game. "But that's what athletics is about."

Iowa State is in something of a transitional period much like Southeast, as the Cyclones have a new coach and returned few key players from last year.

Greg McDermott took over the Iowa State program after a strong run at Northern Iowa of the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Cyclones have won seven of their first 12 games against a relatively light schedule.

Iowa State's victories have come against Minnesota, Eastern Illinois, California-Riverside, Louisiana-Monroe, Norfolk State, Lake Superior State and Savannah State. Only the Minnesota game was on the road.

The Cyclones struggled to beat both UC-Riverside 69-61 and Eastern Illinois of the OVC 56-54. One of Southeast's three wins came against UC-Riverside, 78-75, at the Show Me Center.

Iowa State's losses have been to Drake, Iowa, Northern Iowa, Bradley and third-ranked Ohio State.

Only the Drake game was closer than 10 points, but the Cyclones did gave Ohio State a battle Tuesday night before the Buckeyes pulled away late to win 75-56.

"Iowa State is good," Edgar said.

The Cyclones are led offensively by junior guard Mike Taylor at 15.8 points per game. He is shooting 41.7 percent from 3-point range (30 of 72).

Wesley Johnson, a 6-foot-7 freshman forward, averages 12.4 points per game.

Iowa State has been strong on the boards, outrebounding its opponents by more than four per contest. Southeast has struggled in that area with a minus-seven rebounding average.

Today starts a stretch that has Southeast playing five of its next six games on the road, including three of four OVC contests away from home.