Redhawks will try to shake tough loss tonight against Samford

~ Southeast will try to end three-game losing streak against OVC preseason favorite Samford.

As disappointing as Sunday's loss was for Southeast Missouri State, coach Scott Edgar knows the Redhawks can't afford to feel sorry for themselves.

Not with Ohio Valley Conference preseason favorite Samford visiting tonight.

The Redhawks (3-8, 1-3 OVC) and Bulldogs (3-4, 1-0) will square off at 7:30 p.m. at the Show Me Center.

"We've got to bounce back quick," Edgar said on Monday. "There's not much time."

Southeast dipped into a tie for last place in the 11-team OVC with a 70-67 home loss to Jacksonville State, as the Redhawks were beaten on Will Ginn's 30-foot shot at the buzzer.

"It was a tough loss," said Edgar, whose team has dropped three straight games, all in OVC play. "I probably saw more hurt and disappointment in my team than I have all year."

But, Edgar emphasized, the 20-game OVC season is just beginning, and there is no reason the Redhawks can't still be a major player in the race.

"I see great balance in the league," Edgar said. "I don't see us being very far off from where we want to be.

"With 20 conference games, a lot can happen. The loss at home hurts, but I do see us improving."

Edgar knows Southeast needs to especially start improving from the free-throw line.

While the Redhawks have struggled in various areas this year, nothing has been more glaring than their troubles from the charity stripe.

Southeast is shooting an OVC-worst 56.9 percent from the foul line, with also ranks 320th among 325 Division I teams.

Against Jacksonville State, Southeast made just 19 of 35 foul shots, including five of its final 14 attempts.

During a 75-72 loss at Tennessee State on Dec. 7, the Redhawks went 14-of-25 from the line.

"If we shoot our free throws better, we're probably 3-1 and feeling real good about ourselves," Edgar said. "We're doing what I like my teams doing, getting to the foul line and being aggressive.

"I still want this team to be an attacking-type team. I don't want them to shy away from the free-throw line. We will continue to work on them [free throws]."

The Redhawks will likely have to be proficient in many areas tonight to beat Samford, which not only has solid players but also features the unique Princeton-style offense that often gives opponents fits.

Samford preaches patience and ball movement designed to either free up a shooter for an open 3-pointer or lead to a back-door layup.

More than half of the Bulldogs' total field-goal attempts have been 3-pointers. They lead the OVC in 3-pointers made per game, although they rank only eighth in 3-point percentage at 31.8 (56 of 176).

"Their style is hard to prepare for," Edgar said. "It's hard to get them out of their comfort zone, but we still have to be aggressive. We want to try and disrupt their comfort zone.

"We have to contest the three and also have the mindset to cover the back door. You have to pick your spots [defensively]. You can't go all out."

Said Southeast senior guard Terrick Willoughby, "You have to get down and play defense. It's all about discipline against them."

Even though Samford graduated OVC player of the year J. Robert Merritt, the Bulldogs returned their other four starters from a team that went 20-11, finished second in the OVC regular season and lost in the conference tournament championship game.

Randall Gulina, a 6-foot-1 senior guard, is the OVC's top scorer at 19.9 points per game. He was a first-team all-conference preseason pick.

Also averaging in double figures for the Bulldogs are 6-2 senior guard Jerry Smith (12.3 ppg) and 6-10 junior center Travis Peterson (12 ppg).

Samford's only conference game so far resulted in a 54-53 win at Jacksonville State on Dec. 7 as junior guard Joe Ross Merritt hit a 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds remaining.

"I think every magazine, every poll, even the OVC coaches, have picked Samford to win the league," Edgar said. "They are a very good team, but we have an opportunity to redeem ourselves so to speak and split this homestand."

Rembert honored

Southeast junior center Michael Rembert has been named the OVC newcomer of the week after scoring a career-high 20 points against Jacksonville State.

Rembert, a transfer from Bradley, hit seven of 10 shots from the field.

"Rembert had the type of game we've been looking for," Edgar said. "He was strong around the basket ... we need Mike to play that way every time out."