Redhawks try to halt three-game skid on road

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team will have a few more weeks to contemplate its 0-2 Ohio Valley Conference start.

In the meantime, the Redhawks would like to pick up some wins before resuming OVC play next month.

Southeast's first opportunity comes today against Western Illinois in a 7 p.m. tipoff in Macomb, Ill.

The Redhawks are 2-6 overall, while the Leathernecks are 3-5 overall and 1-0 in the Summit League.

"We need to go there and get a win, just for our team, our mentality," Southeast acting coach Zac Roman said.

Southeast has lost three straight, including two at home in OVC play.

After two-time defending OVC regular-season champion Austin Peay romped 91-67 on Thursday, Southeast was more competitive Saturday during an 83-72 loss to Tennessee State.

Roman said he came away from that game feeling better about the Redhawks, and he hopes they can continue to improve today.

"I saw a lot of positive signs against Tennessee State," Roman said. "We just need to keep getting better."

Since Southeast and WIU are both experiencing down periods within their programs, the matchup appears to be fairly even.

"Talent-wise, I think we match up with them pretty well," said Roman, whose squad plays WIU twice this season, including Dec. 21 at the Show Me Center.

The Leathernecks went 12-18 last year, including 7-11 in the Summit League, but Roman believes the Leathernecks are on the rise under veteran coach Jim Molinari.

Molinari had success during two seasons at Northern Illinois and 12 seasons at Bradley, with two NCAA tournament berths and five NIT appearances.

Molinari already has led WIU to a notable victory in his first season, Saturday's 58-48 win at perennial Summit League power IUPUI.

WIU's triumph in its conference opener broke a 19-game losing streak to IUPUI since 2000. It also snapped the Jaguars' 19-game home winning streak.

"Coach Molinari does a great job with them. They'll be well coached and organized," Roman said. "They went and got one on the road, which is huge for them.

"They'll play with a lot of confidence."

WIU, riding a two-game winning streak, is led by 6-foot-5 senior wing David DuBois with team-high averages of 17 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

No other WIU player has a double-figure scoring average, although 6-2 junior guard David Nurse paced the Leathernecks with 21 points in the win over IUPUI.