Schedule eases some in Las Vegas

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team has two more chances to pick up wins and gain momentum before the start of Ohio Valley Conference play.

Those opportunities will come far from home as the Redhawks conclude the Las Vegas Invitational.

Southeast (1-3) plays Longwood (3-3) at 3 p.m. today and either Oakland (1-4) or Delaware State (1-6) on Saturday. That contest will be at either 1:30 p.m. or 4 p.m.

"We really want to win two games in Las Vegas," Southeast acting coach Zac Roman said.

The Redhawks begin their OVC schedule Thursday at home against two-time defending regular-season champion Austin Peay.

Southeast hosts Tennessee State two days later, then doesn't play another OVC game until January.

"It would be big to go into the conference schedule playing well," Roman said.

While Roman knows the Redhawks won't automatically be able to beat Longwood and whoever they play Saturday, that competition shouldn't be as stiff as what they have faced so far.

Southeast's three losses have been to major-conference opponents on the road.

The Redhawks fell at New Mexico 102-59, Kansas State 88-68 and Iowa 75-41. The Kansas State and Iowa games were part of the Las Vegas Invitational.

"We've played some really good competition so far. Hopefully that will make us better," said Roman, whose squad notched its lone win against NAIA Culver-Stockton 89-50 in its only home game.

While beating any of the three teams Southeast lost to would have been considered a major upset, Roman was disappointed with Tuesday's game at Iowa.

Roman said the Redhawks came out flat and got blown out early.

"We just have to regroup and come out with a lot of energy [in Las Vegas]," Roman said.

Today's opponent, Longwood, already owns a solid win over Gardner-Webb.

The Lancers, like Southeast, have been thumped by several major-conference teams, including Kentucky (91-57) and West Virginia (86-54).

Longwood, a second-year Division I program from Virginia that is not affiliated with a conference, went just 9-22 last year, but lost by only four points (82-78) to Southeast during a tournament in Chicago.

Dana Smith, a 6-foot-5 junior wing, and 6-1 senior guard Ryan Bogan lead the Lancers offensively.

Smith averages 14.7 points per game, while Bogan is at 14.5.

"They'll be a solid team," Roman said.

Among Saturday's possible opponents, Oakland (Mich.) already has notched a significant upset by winning at Oregon.

Oakland's rugged early schedule has featured losses at Syracuse (86-66), Kansas State (83-64) and Iowa (66-57).

The Grizzlies went 17-14 last season, including 11-7 in the Summit League.

Among Delaware State's losses have been at Kentucky (71-42), West Virginia (76-42), Ohio State (70-42) and Dayton (62-42).

The Hornets are coming off a 14-16 campaign, including 10-6 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

"All those teams have played a tough schedule against a lot of teams from major conferences, like we have," Roman said. "They might not have the big names, but they'll be quality opponents for us."