Rembert must sit Saturday after two technicals in game

~ OVC regulations call for a one-game suspension.

Southeast Missouri State will be an additional starter down for Saturday's Ohio Valley Conference game at Austin Peay.

Per OVC rules, junior center Mike Rembert is suspended for the contest after he received two technical fouls and was ejected from Monday's game at Murray State, which the Redhawks won 96-85 for their third consecutive victory.

OVC regulations mandate than any coach or player ejected from a conference game shall not participate in the next conference contest.

Southeast will also be playing its second straight contest without senior guard Terrick Willoughby, who has mononucleosis and likely will miss a few more games.

"We'll just have to do it collectively and have a lot of people step up, like they did at Murray State," Southeast coach Scott Edgar said.

What made Rembert's technical fouls against Murray State unusual is that both came after positive plays by the Redhawks, when he did not seem to be venting anger at an official or an opponent.

The first technical, with 2 minutes, 49 seconds left in the first half, actually was assessed when Rembert wasn't even on the court.

Rembert was on the bench after he already had picked up two fouls. Teammate David Johnson blocked a shot near Southeast's bench, and Rembert stood up and appeared to shout something at his teammates.

The second technical, with 3:57 remaining in the game, came after Rembert blocked a shot and grabbed the rebound, after which he apparently also shouted something out.

The final technical was actually Rembert's fifth foul, which would have fouled him out anyway, but he also was automatically ejected because of receiving two technicals.

"I was kind of surprised by both calls and obviously disappointed by the outcome," Edgar said. "Mike is a great kid and the furthest thing he would do would be disrespect the game or an opponent."

Edgar said he wants his players to be emotional on the court, but he added, "You have to play at the highest level of emotion you can but not go overboard."

Monday's physical game featured a combined 59 fouls and 90 free throws. Southeast's Brandon Foust also received a technical, as did Murray State's Ray George.

"It was a very spirited and emotional game," Edgar said.

The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Rembert is Southeast's third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, with averages of 9.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Dionte Perry, a 6-6, 215-pound junior, likely will start in Rembert's place Saturday.

Perry is averaging 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, but he scored eight points against Murray State.

Rembert's absence could also mean more court time for 6-7, 250-pound senior Tyrell White, who has played sparingly this season and has scored just four points, although two came Monday.

"The old saying, we'll just have to go there [to Austin Peay] and throw the kitchen sink at them," Edgar said.