Redhawks wait for Harris to heal

~ Southeast men's basketball team has had to get by without its backup point guard.

While the overall health of the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team improves, the Redhawks still are being hampered by an injury at a key position.

Backup point guard Hank Harris has played only three minutes -- and that was in the season opener -- because of severe shin splints that might have developed into a stress fracture.

Although sophomore starter Roderick Pearson is having a strong season so far, Southeast coach Scott Edgar knows the Redhawks could sorely use Harris.

Never was that more evident than during Friday's 102-99 double-overtime loss to Coppin State at the Chicago Invitational Challenge.

Pearson, saddled with foul trouble, played just 16 minutes before fouling out late in regulation.

The Redhawks wound up squandering a six-point lead in the final minute of regulation and an eight-point advantage in the first overtime, thanks largely to turnovers at crucial times.

"Point guard is very vital. ... It will be welcome to get him [Harris] out there," Edgar said Monday. "And I have to do a better job giving our other players confidence when Rod is not in there."

Edgar said that Harris, a junior college transfer, is getting close to returning, although he almost certainly won't play Wednesday night when the Redhawks (3-3) visit Louisiana Tech (1-3).

Edgar said there is a chance, if he can practice some this week, that Harris could see action Saturday night when Southeast visits Bradley (4-2) in its final game before the start of Ohio Valley Conference play.

"We're still evaluating him. I think he's getting healthier," said Edgar, who added that Harris has not practiced in a while.

As for other previously injured Redhawks, junior college transfer swingman Jaycen Herring appears to be at just about full strength. Herring, who was bothered early by a thumb injury, scored 28 points in the two Chicago Invitational Challenge games.

But senior center Mike Rembert, who missed the first two games of the season after having a second knee surgery, is still not at full strength.

"He's still going through rehabilitating pains," Edgar said.

Pearson leads offense

Pearson was Southeast's fifth-leading scorer last season as a true freshman, averaging eight points while shooting 42.5 percent from the field overall, 26.3 percent from 3-point range and 72 percent from the free-throw line.

Through six games, Pearson leads the Redhawks with a 13.7 scoring average. He is shooting 50 percent from the field (24-of-48), 42.9 percent from 3-point range (6-of-14) and 80 percent from the foul line (28-of-35).

Pearson ranks among the top 10 in three major OVC statistical categories -- tied for seventh in 3-point percentage, tied for eighth in free-throw percentage and ninth in assists (3.17 per game).

While Pearson could stand to improve his assist-to-turnover ratio -- he has 19 assists and 26 turnovers -- Edgar can't find much wrong with the way his point guard is performing.

"Rod has really stepped it up," Edgar said. "I've always felt the biggest improvement in your career is from year one to year two."

Williams nabs honor

Sophomore forward Calvin Williams was named the OVC newcomer of the week Monday.

Williams, a transfer from Colorado who practiced with the team last year but could not participate in games, recorded a double-double in two of Southeast's three contests last week.

The 6-foot-9 Williams had 13 points and 10 rebounds against Evansville, then got 11 points and 10 rebounds against Coppin State.

Williams is averaging 9.8 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds to go along with a team-high 10 blocks. He is the OVC's No. 4 rebounder and No. 3 shot-blocker.

"I think Calvin's doing well. I've seen a lot of improvement in him since the Xavier game," Edgar said. "He's just going to get better and better. And the good thing is, he has two years left after this year."

Noteworthy

• Freshman center Will Bogan, Southeast's No. 3 scorer at 10.2 points per game and No. 2 rebounder with a 6.5 average, joins Pearson in ranking among the top 10 in three major OVC statistical categories.

Bogan, a Bell City High School product, is eighth in rebounding, 10th in field-goal percentage (56.8) and sixth in blocked shots (1.17 per game).

• Sophomore guard Jimmy Drew is third in the OVC in 3-point percentage at 54.5 (12-of-22), and he is tied for 10th in 3-pointers per game.
• Most OVC teams don't begin league play until next week, but two square off Saturday night as defending regular-season champion Austin Peay visits Tennessee Tech.