SOUTHEAST CONFIDENT ENTERING REMATCH

Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner believes that it's never wise to mislead a team regarding the relative strength or weakness of a particular opponent.

So Garner is not about to try and convince the Indians that Morris Brown is a strong Division I squad.

Still, Garner expects the Indians to be plenty prepared for tonight's non-league game at the Show Me Center. The tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

"You can't mislead your players. Leading up to the game, you don't mention Morris Brown like you would (Murray State star) Isaac Spencer," said Garner. "But you have to be ready to play every opponent. The important thing leading up to a game like this is how you practice.

"I know we're a better basketball team (than Morris Brown). We should win the game. And if we do the things we're supposed to do, we will win the game. You can't always say that."

The Indians, who are 14-11 overall, had their way with 6-19 Morris Brown when the squads squared off in Atlanta on Jan. 22, rolling to an 82-63 victory.

Morris Brown, while not a solid team, has also been hampered by the fact that, as a first-year Division I program not affiliated with a conference, the Wolverines have been forced to play most of their games on the road against relatively big-name opponents.

Among the Wolverines' road opponents have been Mississippi, Michigan, Minnesota, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, SMU, Texas A&M, Missouri-Kansas City, Weber State and Arkansas State.

"They've really played a tough schedule," Garner said. "They've gone on the road and played some big programs. No matter what kind of team they have, it would be tough to have a decent record against that kind of schedule."

Anthony Adams, a 6-foot-2 junior guard, is the Wolverines' leading scorer at nearly 15 points per game and he shoots 40 percent from 3-point range.

Morris Brown's only other player averaging in double figures is 6-6 junior forward Kareem Allison at 12 points per game.

Amien Hicks, a 6-6 sophomore forward, is by far the Wolverines' top rebounder with an average of eight a contest.

In the earlier meeting, Amory Sanders led five Southeast players in double figures with 17 points. Akiem Claborn, a 6-8 freshman center, paced the Wolverines with 19 points.

"What always concerns you, because you've already beaten them bad, is will your players take them as serious as they should," said Garner. "That's why it's so important to take care of all the little details in practice leading up to the game."

It's unusual for a team to play a non-league game this late in the season, but Garner said he actually likes where this contest falls as the Indians head into their final three Ohio Valley Conference dates of the campaign, beginning Saturday when Eastern Illinois visits the Show Me Center.

"You really don't like non-conference road games during the conference season, but I think this game fits in good for us," Garner said. "Coming off the win at Tennessee-Martin (Saturday), it's nice to play another game before Eastern Illinois comes in."