Southeast men look to build on first OVC win

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team has not won in Cookeville, Tenn., since its NCAA tournament season of 1999-2000.

Southeast, fortified by a two-game winning streak, will try for a rare victory on Tennessee Tech's home court when the squads meet at 7:30 p.m. today.

Tech has beaten Southeast 12 straight times at the Eblen Center, but the Redhawks enter this meeting with momentum.

"We certainly feel a lot better now," Southeast coach Dickey Nutt said.

That's because the Redhawks are coming off their first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season, Sunday's 76-67 victory at Jacksonville State.

Southeast is 2-10 overall and 1-2 in OVC play. Tech is 4-5 and 2-0 after Sunday's 65-64 home triumph over Eastern Illinois. The Eagles' other league win was a 64-62 victory at Jacksonville State.

Tech is one of two OVC teams to have not lost in conference play.

"They'll be a very tough opponent for us, but I feel like our guys have some confidence now," Nutt said. "To win two games in a row is certainly good for us, especially to win on the road."

Nutt liked what he saw Sunday as Southeast built a 16-point lead early in the second half, fell behind by a point but finished strong to break a 15-game road losing streak and a 12-game OVC losing streak.

"It all starts with character. This team has a lot of character," Nutt said. "I was really proud of them, the way they handled things and battled."

The Redhawks prevailed despite using only eight players due to injuries.

Tech needed a late basket to win Sunday after Eastern Illinois wiped out a 17-point deficit.

Junior guard Zac Swansey's only basket of the game was a 15-footer from the right wing with 4.5 seconds left to erase a 64-63 deficit.

Junior forward Kevin Murphy, a preseason all-OVC pick, leads the Eagles with a 12.9 scoring average.

Nutt honored

Southeast redshirt freshman point guard Lucas Nutt was named the OVC freshman of the week on Monday.

Nutt recorded his second career double-double by scoring 16 points and dishing out 10 assists during Sunday's win. The 10 assists are the most by an OVC player this season.

Nutt, who also had four rebounds and a steal, went 9 for 9 at the free-throw line.

Women at Tech

Southeast's women face a difficult challenge today with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff at Tech.

The Redhawks (4-7, 1-2) suffered a 62-48 loss at Jacksonville State on Sunday.

Tech (7-2, 2-0), expected to contend for a high conference finish, is coming off Sunday's 65-58 home win over defending OVC champion and preseason favorite Eastern Illinois.

The Eagles, one of two OVC teams without a conference loss, also own a 79-63 OVC victory at Jacksonville State.

Junior guard Tacarra Hayes, a preseason all-OVC selection, paces Tech with a 15.4 scoring average.