SE SWITCHES GEARS TO NON-CONFERENCE

For Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians, they must be able to overcome one very important obstacle tonight -- avoiding a letdown.

Coming off two huge Ohio Valley Conference road victories to begin league play, and with another OVC game looming later in the week, the Indians must now direct their attention to a non-conference opponent.

And it figures to be an extremely difficult challenge indeed as Southeast and Arkansas State -- also known as the Indians -- square off in an 8 o'clock tipoff at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro, Ark.

ASU was last year's Sun Belt Conference co-champion and is regarded as one of the favorites in the league this season. The Indians are 3-3, with losses to Saint Louis, Oral Roberts and Texas Christian, and wins over Baylor, Denver and Alabama A&M.

Southeast, 4-2, just finished up a two-game road trip that saw the Indians upend Austin Peay and Tennessee State -- picked to finish among the top three teams in the OVC.

"We had a great trip," said Southeast coach Gary Garner. "Now I'm really concerned about our mental state for this game.

"Coming off two really big conference wins, and with another big conference game Thursday (at home against Eastern Kentucky), I don't know how we'll react mentally. But hopefully we'll be able to come back and have another good game."

Garner realizes it will take a very good game for Southeast to knock off ASU because the Indians from Jonesboro figure to present quite a few problems for the Indians from Cape Girardeau.

"They are a very talented team," said Garner. "They had a really good season last year and they've got a lot of their key players back, plus they've added some very good players."

All five ASU starters are scoring in double figures, with three getting more than 13 points per game.

C.J. Pepper, a 6-foot-5 guard, leads the way at 14.8 points per game. An All-American at Mineral Area College in Park Hills last year who was recruited by Southeast, Pepper is shooting 55 percent from the field while also pulling down nearly six rebounds per contest.

Also averaging in double figures for ASU are 6-4 senior forward Antonio Harvey (14.7 ppg), 5-6 junior guard Chico Fletcher (14.0 ppg), 6-8 senior center Eric Beatty (13.5 ppg) and 6-7 junior forward Freddy Hicks (11.0 ppg). Beatty is shooting 68 percent from the field.

Fletcher, a dazzling point guard, was last year's Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. He is averaging nearly nine assists per game and has a tremendous assist to turnover ratio of 53 to 22.

Hicks, a sensational leaper, averages a team-high 8.5 rebounds per game and has blocked 18 shots.

"Fletcher is only 5-6 but he's really good. He's the engine that makes them go," Garner said. "Hicks is a great leaper and shot blocker. Beatty is a big, strong kid. They're just a well-rounded team. They get scoring from all five positions."

Southeast has also become an extremely well-rounded team in recent games as four players are now averaging in double figures.

Senior center Bud Eley (15.0 ppg) leads the way, followed by junior forward Roderick Johnson (11.6 ppg), senior guard Cory Johnson (11.2 ppg) and junior forward Mike Branson (10.0 ppg).

R. Johnson is shooting 63 percent from the field while Eley is at 59 percent as those two have formed an impressive inside combination.

Eley was named the OVC Player of the Week after scoring 31 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in the wins over Austin Peay and Tennessee State.

"Rod and Bud are shooting so well inside, we need to throw it in there as much as we can," said Garner. "A big key to this game will be us being able to get the ball inside and we also need to handle the basketball."

Early in the season, Southeast's guards were struggling while the inside players were solid. But all phases of the Indians' game clicked in the two big conference road wins. The return of guard Kahn Cotton from knee problems has helped immensely.

"Kahn gives us another player who can really create," said Garner. "All our players are just really doing a good job right now. They're all accepting their roles."

While the Indians' offense has picked up in recent games, the defense has been strong all season. Southeast is limiting opponents to OVC lows of 57.8 points per game and 38.8 percent shooting.

"Our defense has really been good and now our offense has started catching up to the defense," Garner said.

On the negative side, junior forward Brian Bunche -- a key inside reserve -- is still hobbled by a sprained ankle he suffered against Austin Peay. Bunche missed the Tennessee State game but Garner is hopeful he'll be able to see some action tonight.

SEMO at Arkansas State

8 p.m., Jonesboro, Ark.

Probable Starters

SEMO (4-2)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Mike Branson F Jr. 6-6 10.0

Roderick Johnson F Jr. 6-6 11.6

Bud Eley C Sr. 6-10 15.0

Cory Johnson G Sr. 6-0 11.2

Jeramy Biles G So. 5-11 5.0

ASU (3-3)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Antonio Harvey F Sr. 6-4 14.7

Freddy Hicks F Jr. 6-7 11.0

Eric Beatty C Sr. 6-8 13.5

C.J. Pepper G Jr. 6-5 14.8

Chico Fletcher G Jr. 5-6 14.0

Series: SEMO leads 36-23

Last meeting: SEMO won 71-69 in 1992

Radio: K103-FM