SENIORS TO LEAD INDIANS' CHARGE AGAINST PANTHERS; EASTERIN ILLINOIS VISITS TONIGHT

Although Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team will host a first-round Ohio Valley Conference Tournament game Tuesday, tonight will mark the final regular-season home contest for the Indians.

So it will be Senior Night at the Show Me Center when Southeast faces Eastern Illinois in a 7:30 tipoff -- and Southeast coach Gary Garner says it's fitting that his four seniors are being honored near the conclusion of the Indians' best Division I season ever.

The four seniors -- Bud Eley, Cory Johnson, Kahn Cotton and Demetrius Watson -- are particularly special to Garner because they have been the backbone of his first two Southeast teams and they have played a major role in this breakthrough season for the Indians.

"I really feel good about all four seniors," said Garner. "They have been great young men to be around. They all give a good effort and they're all team-oriented. They all make individual sacrifices.

"You always want your seniors to go out on a big year so I'm really happy for them."

Eley is the only Southeast senior to have played all four seasons for the Indians. And what a four seasons they have been.

The 6-foot-10 center has been the OVC's dominant center over the past several seasons. He was named the league's preseason player of the year -- and is likely to win the actual award when it is announced soon.

Eley, averaging 15 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots per game, leads the OVC in rebounding, blocks and field-goal percentage (61 percent). Averaging nearly 17 points and 10 rebounds during his Southeast career, the native of Detroit, Mich., ranks fourth on the school's career scoring list with 1,542 points and he is the school record-holder for both rebounds (909) and blocks (168).

"Bud has just dominated most games this season," said Garner. "He's just had an outstanding career and his records in rebounding and blocked shots will last a long time."

Johnson, a 6-foot guard, came to Southeast after a standout career at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff. In two seasons with the Indians, he has established himself as one of the best shooters in school history.

The former all-stater at Clearwater High School is averaging 10.7 points per game after scoring 14.5 a contest during his first season at Southeast.

Last year, Johnson set a school single-season record with 95 3-pointers. He led the OVC in free-throw shooting last year at 87 percent and is first again this season at 90 percent.

With a career free-throw mark of 89 percent, Johnson is a virtual lock to shatter the school record of 84 percent held by former Southeast standout Ronny Rankin.

"Cory is just one of the best shooters I've ever been around," Garner said. "His range is incredible."

Cotton, a 5-10 point guard, is in his second season with the Indians after transferring from Idaho State. He averaged 12.2 points per game last year and is at 7.8 this season, with a team-high 73 assists.

The native of North Little Rock, Ark., has become known as the Indians' `Mr. Clutch.' He has hit several huge shots at the end of games this season, including one with two seconds left that beat Arkansas State and a long 3-pointer at the buzzer against Tennessee-Martin that forced overtime in what became a Southeast win.

"Kahn has provided many thrills in clutch situations," said Garner. "He's our point guard who keeps us going."

Watson, a 6-4 forward, is also in his second season at Southeast after a standout career at Mineral Area College in Park Hills.

The St. Louis native was a starter much of last year, averaging 8.8 points and 5.2 rebounds. He's primarily come off the bench this season and his scoring average is down to 4.2, but that doesn't mean he's been any less valuable.

"Demetrius is our warrior," Garner said. "He just helps in whatever way we ask, always giving a great effort."

The seniors, along with a host of other players, have certainly been instrumental in Southeast's 17-8 record that is the school's best since moving up to Division I eight years ago. And with a 14-3 league mark that locks them into second place, the Indians have also had their best OVC showing ever.

As for tonight's game, Garner is leery of the Panthers, who are 13-14 overall, 8-9 in OVC play -- and still fighting for a first-round OVC tourney home game.

EIU is one of six teams all tied for third place at 8-9. The Panthers are assured of getting into the OVC Tournament -- the top eight teams in the 10-team league make it -- but they could finish anywhere from third to eighth. The top four finishers have a first-round tournament game at home.

The Panthers boast some of the league's top perimeter players, led by 6-foot-2 sophomore Kyle Hill (16.1 ppg), 6-5 junior Marc Polite (14.6 ppg) and 6-foot senior Jack Owens (12 ppg, 151 assists).

The Panthers have taken and made the most 3-pointers in the OVC, hitting 206 of 540 (38 percent). Polite and Owens both shoot over 40 percent from long range.

"Hill, Polite and Owens are all very good players," said Garner. "Their team shoots so many 3-pointers and if they're on, you can really be in trouble.

"Eastern Illinois is still playing for a lot and there's no question they're going to come in here on a tremendous high. We'll get their best shot and, if we don't match that, we'll be in trouble."

* Murray State's 95-63 win at Tennessee State Thursday night ended Southeast's hopes of sharing the OVC title as the Racers clinched their 11th championship in the past 12 years. The Racers are 16-1 in league play.

Eastern Illinois, Tennessee Tech, Morehead State, Tennessee State, Austin Peay and Middle Tennessee are all 8-9.

Eastern Illinois at SEMO

7:30 p.m., Show Me Center

Probable Starters

SEMO (17-8, 14-3 OVC)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Mike Branson F Jr. 6-6 10.4

Roderick Johnson F Jr. 6-7 12.0

Bud Eley C Sr. 6-10 15.0

Cory Johnson G Sr. 6-0 10.7

Kahn Cotton G Sr. 5-10 7.8

Eastern Illinois (13-14, 8-9 OVC)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Marc Polite F Jr. 6-5 14.6

Merve Joseph F So. 6-3 6.1

Michael Shaver C Sr. 6-10 4.0

Michael Forrest G Jr. 6-3 5.4

Jack Owens G Sr. 6-0 12.0

Series: EIU leads 8-7

Last Meeting: SEMO won 81-70 on Jan. 23

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