SEMO BIDS FOR DANCE TICKETS; INDIANS SEEK THIRD WIN OVER MTSU IN SEMIS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball team handily defeated Middle Tennessee State twice during the regular season -- but Raiders' coach Randy Wiel says it's too late to try something different now.

"Both teams know what the other will do," said Wiel. "We just have to try to do things better, a lot better than we did against them during the regular season."

Which Wiel knows will not be easy when the teams square off at 7 tonight in the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament at the Nashville Arena. The Indians are 19-8 while the Raiders are 12-18.

The other semifinal, set for a 5 p.m. tipoff, will match regular-season champion Murray State (25-5) and Morehead State (13-14).

Tonight's winner advances to Sunday's 1:30 p.m. championship game, with that winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

"We're excited about getting the opportunity to play," said Wiel.

Southeast coach Gary Garner feels the same way.

"This is such an exciting time of the basketball season," said Garner. "It's single elimination. One loss and your season is over. There is so much riding on it. I'm sure both teams will be tight and a big key to the game will be which team can settle down first."

While MTSU had an up-and-down season -- the Raiders went 9-9 in OVC play and finished in a four-way tie for third place -- Southeast was consistent virtually the entire way, going 15-3 in the league to finish a strong second, just one game behind Murray State.

"SEMO is a very formidable opponent," said Wiel. "They've been very consistent throughout the season and it doesn't look like they're letting up."

The Indians will carry a four-game winning streak into tonight's game, outscoring the opposition by an average of 17.5 points during that span.

But Garner knows that anything can happen in the postseason. That's why he's concerned about the Raiders, even though Southeast posted 73-63 and 69-55 victories over MTSU during the regular season.

"What we did against them during the season really doesn't matter, although it probably gives us some extra confidence going into the game," Garner said. "But they seem to be playing their best basketball right now."

Wiel agreed, saying, "We're playing more consistent. Earlier, we'd play a good game, then a bad game. But at this time of the year, I think everybody is a lot more consistent."

Cedric Wallace, a 6-foot-6 junior forward, leads MTSU offensively with 12.8 points a game. The Raiders' only other double-figure scorer is 6-10 sophomore center Lee Nosse, who averages 10.4 points per contest and is one of the OVC's more improved players.

"Nosse has been pretty consistent but we need our perimeter guys to be more consistent," Wiel said.

Senior point guard Richard Duncan averages 9.2 points per game and has 141 assists. Gerald King comes off the bench to score 9.8 points a game while 6-6 senior Ali McGhee gets 9.2 points per contest and is one of the OVC's top athletes.

"They're a balanced team like we are and they really have the ingredients for a solid team because they've got a good inside-outside game," said Garner. "Nosse is the only center in our league with a chance to be a presence against Bud (Eley). Duncan is an outstanding point guard, McGhee may be the best jumper in the league and Wallace is a very good player."

McGhee is the Raiders' top 3-point threat at 40 percent while Nosse, Wallace, King and Duncan are all shooting better than 33 percent from behind the arc.

Four of Southeast's starters average in double figures offensively, led by Eley, the OVC Player of the Year who leads the league in rebounding, blocked shots and field-goal percentage. The 6-10 Eley averages 15.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 60 percent from the field.

Also scoring in double figures are forward Roderick Johnson (12.2 ppg), guard Cory Johnson (10.8 ppg) and forward Mike Branson (10.3 ppg). Point guard Kahn Cotton is not that far off (8.2 ppg).

"They have all the right pieces in place," said Wiel. "Bud has really been a dominant player, (Cory) Johnson is a great shooter, (Roderick) Johnson does the dirty work, Cotton is a good point guard and Branson really gives them a lot of chemistry.

"We've got a difficult game ahead of us."

But, as Wiel noted, "The good thing about the postseason is everybody starts over."

SEMO vs. Middle Tennessee

OVC Tournament Semifinal

7 p.m., Nashville Arena

Probable Starters

SEMO (19-8)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Mike Branson F Jr. 6-6 10.3

Roderick Johnson F Jr. 6-7 12.2

Bud Eley C Sr. 6-10 15.3

Cory Johnson G Sr. 6-0 10.8

Kahn Cotton G Sr. 5-10 8.2

Middle Tennessee (12-18)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Cedric Wallace F Jr. 6-6 12.8

Dale Thomas F Jr. 6-6 7.2

Lee Nosse C So. 6-10 10.4

Ali McGhee G Sr. 6-6 8.5

Richard Duncan G Sr. 6-0 9.2

Series: SEMO leads 10-8

This season: SEMO won both games, 73-63 and 69-55

Radio: K103-FM

SEMO vs. Tennessee Tech

OVC Tournament Semifinal

11 a.m., Nashville Arena

Probable Starters

SEMO (19-8)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Tajuana White F Sr. 5-9 9.5

Paula Corder F Jr. 5-10 14.3

Pam Iversen C Fr. 6-3 12.0

Rusty Sowers G Sr. 5-5 13.2

Moneik Campbell G Jr. 5-5 8.3

Tennessee Tech (19-8)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Andrea Baldwin F Sr. 6-0 6.5

Janet Holt F Fr. 6-0 13.3

Diane Seng C Jr. 6-2 14.8

Misty Garrett G Fr. 5-6 3.0

Rachael Gobble G So. 5-8 7.7

Series: Tech leads 14-4

This season: The teams split, 82-64 Tech and 74-70 SEMO

Radio: KAPE-1550