SE CENTER OPTS NOT TO RETURN TO COURT

Less than a month prior to the start of practice, Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team has lost one of its top returning players.

The school announced Thursday afternoon that 6-foot-8 center David Montgomery has decided not to play his senior season due to personal reasons.

Montgomery, who is scheduled to graduate in May with a degree in computer science, said Thursday night that he considers school his top priority and he simply felt it would be too tough to continue to devote his full attention to basketball.

"It was just a personal decision on my part," said Montgomery. "I just felt school is a lot more important to me. I just think I can spend my time better studying and things like that. It takes so much work to play basketball, and if you're not committed, you're not doing anybody any good.

"It's tough going to school and playing basketball and I really don't think I could have juggled it all this year. But I want everybody to know that my decision to play has nothing to do with coach (Gary) Garner, the coaching staff or members of this year's team."

Added Montgomery, "I think coach Garner and the staff have done a great job and I hope this year's team is very successful."

Montgomery, who married former Southeast women's basketball player Stephanie Faith over the summer, said that really did not factor into his decision.

"The married part is really not that big a deal. Stephanie has been through it (playing basketball), so she understands," he said. "It was really just my decision."

Montgomery had by far the best season of his Southeast career last year, averaging 12 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while ranking eighth nationally in field-goal percentage at 62.1 percent. He was a starter in 25 of the Indians' 27 games.

"I'm disappointed that David waited until this fall to decide not to play this season, but I wish him well," said Garner, who will be in his second season as the Indians' head coach. "David got married this summer and he told me he just felt he needed to concentrate on school and get on with his life."

Montgomery was slated to share time at the post position with 6-10 Bud Eley, who missed most of last season with foot injuries. Eley and 6-8 junior-college transfer Brian Bunche will now be the only true post players on the Southeast roster.

"David's loss certainly hurts our depth inside," Garner said.

The Indians are scheduled to begin practice Oct. 17. The season opener will be Nov. 14 against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

* One change has been made to the original Southeast basketball schedule that had been released a few weeks ago.

Southeast will play at Oklahoma State Dec. 30 instead of Nov. 28. The game time of 7:05 p.m. remains the same.