Redhawks host future member of OVC

~ SIU-Edwardsville will begin conference play in 2011-12 season

Southeast Missouri State's basketball teams will look to get back in the win column today when future Ohio Valley Conference member Southern Illinois-Edwardsville visits.

The women's game is set for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff at the Show Me Center, followed by the men's contest at 7:45 p.m.

SIUE, which played a full Division I schedule last year for the first time, will join the OVC for basketball beginning with the 2011-12 season.

Men lose six of seven

Southeast's men have lost three straight and six of seven following Saturday's 82-68 OVC setback at Tennessee Tech.

The Redhawks (6-15, 3-8) remained eighth in the 10-team OVC. The top eight finishers qualify for the conference tournament.

"It's been a tough stretch for us, but I'm really proud of the way they've hung in there and continued to fight," Southeast coach Dickey Nutt said of his players. "They're giving me a lot of effort, and somewhere down the line that's going to pay off."

Nutt hopes it pays off in Southeast's final nonconference home game of the season.

SIUE (3-18) is struggling, like most young Division I programs, but the Cougars did win 10 games last year, including 70-69 at Southeast as they hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds.

"We can't take anybody lightly," Nutt said. "It's good to be playing at home again. We've had a lot of road games lately."

Compounding the Redhawks' recent troubles is the fact they have played six straight games without junior forward Cameron Butler, who has a foot injury. Butler is Southeast's top scorer in OVC play and No. 2 rebounder overall.

Nutt is unsure about Butler's status for this week's two contests, including Saturday's OVC home matchup with Eastern Illinois.

Women in need of win

Southeast's women have won just two of their past seven games following Saturday's 59-56 OVC loss at Tennessee Tech in which the Eagles hit a tie-breaking 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds remaining.

The Redhawks (7-13, 4-7), tied for seventh in the OVC, are just one game out of fourth place. The top four finishers play at home in the first round of the conference tournament.

"There's a lot still to be decided," said Southeast coach John Ishee, whose squad will have its final nonconference contest today.

SIUE (5-17) owns a win over Tennessee-Martin, which recently beat Southeast. The Redhawks and Cougars have not squared off since the 1990-1991 season.

"They've played some tough teams," Ishee said. "It won't be an easy game for us, but it's good to be at home. We've been on the road a lot lately."

The Redhawks have been racked by injuries as they have been playing the past few weeks without their top three scorers: freshman guard Jasmine Davis, freshman forward Bailie Roberts and junior wing Lauren Sharpe.

Davis and Sharpe are out for the season. Roberts, who has a foot problem, is expected to return at some point, although Ishee is not certain about her status for this week, including Saturday's OVC home date with Eastern Illinois.