Redhawks host OVC leader tonight

~ Defending champ Murray State brings an eight-game winning streak to town

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team would love to pull off a major upset tonight.

At the very least, the Redhawks hope to give Murray State a much better game this time around when the squads meet at the Show Me Center in a 7 p.m. tipoff.

Defending Ohio Valley Conference regular-season and tournament champion MSU crushed the Redhawks 96-58 on Jan. 22 in Murray, Ky.

Things were never close as the Racers built a 15-2 lead less than four minutes in. It was 31-6 before the 10-minute mark.

"We didn't play very well, but they were on all cylinders, hitting every shot," Southeast coach Dickey Nutt said.

The Racers, a year after rolling through the OVC with just one loss and winning an NCAA tournament game, are not as dominant but still poised to repeat as regular-season champions.

MSU (20-6, 12-3) is in first place, one game ahead of Morehead State. The Racers bring an eight-game winning streak to Cape Girardeau.

"They're a solid team and they're going to take this game very seriously. It could mean the difference in winning the championship," Nutt said.

While the Racers are gunning to repeat as OVC champs, the Redhawks (7-19, 5-10) are trying to fight their way into the conference tournament for the first time since the 2006-07 season.

Southeast is seventh in the 10-team OVC with three league games left. The top eight qualify for the tournament. The Redhawks have a strong chance to make it even if they don't post another OVC victory but would like more breathing room.

"We're in a good position but we're not looking at it like we're in yet," said Nutt, whose squad closes out its OVC schedule next week with tough contests at Tennessee State and Austin Peay.

"In the future our goal is not to be fighting for that last spot or two. But the point we're at right now, if we could just get in the tournament anything can happen."

Southeast has dropped two straight following a two-game winning streak. But the Redhawks had a strong effort during Saturday's 64-52 loss at Morehead State.

"We're playing our best basketball," Nutt said. "I think we've made progress this year even though our record doesn't really show it."

Nutt knows it will take Southeast's best to beat the Racers, who have won eight straight against the Redhawks and have not lost to Southeast in Cape Girardeau since the 2002-03 campaign.

But the Racers have proven more vulnerable this season than last year so Nutt believes Southeast has an opportunity for the upset.

"Hopefully we'll have a good crowd," said Nutt, whose team is just 2-6 in OVC home games compared to 3-4 on the road. "We just haven't played very well at home."

Southeast fans are encouraged to wear red to the game on Red Riot Night.

Following tonight's contest, Southeast closes out its home schedule Saturday against Sacramento State in the annual BracketBuster game.