Redhawks look to end three-game slide today

~ Southeast men may find a bitter Tennessee Tech team waiting in Cookeville, Tenn.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team is reeling after three straight losses.

Things only will get tougher for the Redhawks today as they face an amped Tennessee Tech squad.

Southeast (11-8, 6-3 Ohio Valley Conference) faces the host Eagles (8-11, 5-4) in a 1 p.m. tipoff.

Tech will be looking for revenge today.

When the squads met Dec. 8 at the Show Me Center, Southeast broke a 10-game losing streak to the Eagles with an 84-74 win.

Southeast led most of the way, including by 18 points late.

The Eagles came away with some hard feelings after Southeast coach Scott Edgar called a timeout in the final minute with the victory well in hand.

Edgar said he had decided beforehand to do that if the opportunity presented itself so he could walk toward where Southeast's 1985-86 team -- which had earlier been inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame -- was seated and salute the group.

Tech coach Mike Sutton took offense to Edgar's calling the late timeout, and the two exchanged heated words on the court.

"We'll get their best shot," Edgar said. "I expect Tennessee Tech to play their best game of the year."

Regardless of how the Eagles play against Southeast at home, it's been good enough for most of the past decade.

Southeast has lost the last nine games at Tech's Eblen Center, its last win on the Eagles' court coming during Southeast's NCAA tournament season of 1999-2000.

The Eagles have been among the OVC's top programs in recent years, finishing at least third each of the past three seasons, during which time they have won 56 games.

Tech features three of the top 15 players in the OVC, led by returning all-league performers Anthony Fisher and Amadi McKenzie.

Fisher, a 6-foot-3 senior guard, is the OVC's third-leading scorer at 16.6 points per game.

McKenzie, a 6-7 senior forward, ranks ninth in scoring and second in rebounding with averages of 13.6 points and 7.8 boards.

Daniel Northern, a 6-9 junior center, leads the OVC in rebounding (8.7) and blocked shots (51). He averages 11.3 points.

Northern had his sixth double-double of the season during Thursday's 74-57 home rout of Eastern Illinois with 12 points and 15 rebounds.

The Eagles have struggled with their 3-point shooting, ranking last in the OVC at 31.5 percent, but they are the top rebounding team in league games at plus 6.2. Southeast is second at plus 4.1.

Tech, after a slow start, has won two straight to climb above .500 in OVC play.

The Eagles are in a three-way tie for fourth place in the 11-team conference, one game behind the second-place Redhawks.

Southeast, playing its first game without senior forward Brandon Foust -- the squad's top all-around player -- suffered an 87-75 defeat at Tennessee State on Thursday.

Foust is out for the season after suffering a knee injury during last Saturday's loss at first-place Austin Peay, which now leads Southeast by two games.

"I told them this season will not have two records, one with Brandon and one without Brandon," Edgar said. "We just have to get tougher and come together."

Sophomore Calvin Williams, who will receive the bulk of the minutes at Foust's old power forward position, said the Redhawks missed their leader against Tennessee State.

Edgar knew that the Redhawks' current stretch of three straight road games against three of the OVC's top squads would be difficult.

"We knew this was going to be a tough stretch whether we had Brandon or not," Edgar said. "These are three of the most talented teams in the league."

Edgar indicated he was contemplating some lineup changes to try and combat Southeast's recent slow starts. During the three-game slide, which began with a 79-51 home loss to Murray State on Jan. 7, Southeast has dug itself early holes.

Murray State scored the first 11 points and Southeast never led.

Saturday's 85-82 defeat at defending OVC regular-season champion Austin Peay saw the Govs go up by 16 points early. Southeast managed to grab a late lead before falling short.

Southeast never led Tennessee State as the Tigers scored the first five points and later went up 23-10.

The Redhawks pulled to within 34-33 at halftime, but TSU took control in the second half and led by double figures much of the period.