Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team to visit unbeaten Bowling Green

Southeast Missouri State men's basketball coach Dickey Nutt has stressed improvement each time his players step out on the court this season.

He knows if the Redhawks keep their winning streak alive against Bowling Green tonight, they will have improved. Nutt regards the unbeaten Falcons to be comparable in talent to Loyola Marymount and San Diego, teams the Redhawks lost to in the LMU Classic to start the season.

Southeast has since evened its record with wins over Hannibal-LaGrange and Central Arkansas, bringing a two-game winning streak into the 6 p.m. game in Bowling Green, Ohio.

"There's a reason why they're 2-0," Nutt said. "This is going to be a tremendous test for us."

Southeast has added a few key pieces since the LMU Classic, with senior guard Jarekious Bradley returning from an injury and senior forward Josh Langford back from a two-game suspension. They're averaging 17.5 and 11.5 ppg, respectively. Senior forward Nino Johnson is averaging 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks ,while sophomore guard Antonius Cleveland averages 12.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

The play of senior guard JJ Thompson also has improved since the LMU Classic. The point guard, who sat out all last season after transferring from Houston, is averaging 4.3 assists.

"I think JJ Thompson is settling into his role, and I think he's doing a really, really good job, and he's certainly done a good job the last couple of games," Nutt said. "He's doing exactly what we want him to do, and that's getting everybody involved."

The Redhawks are on the road for the fourth time in five games and face a Bowling Green team that has a 77-58 win over Drake and a 70-55 defeat of Wright State in the first year under coach Chris Jans. Jans was an assistant at Wichita State for seven seasons, including the Shockers' final four appearance two seasons ago and last year when they were a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and finished 35-1.

Bowling Green has four players averaging double figures in scoring through its first two games.

Six-foot-seven junior forward Spencer Parker averages 12.0 points and 4.5 rebounds, and 6-8 senior forward Richaun Holmes averages 10.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 blocks. The Falcons are tied for second in the country with 9.0 blocks per game.

Sophomore guard Zack Denny is averaging 11.5 ppg, and is coming off an 18-point performance against Wright State where he was 4 of 4 from behind the arc, while senior guard Jehvon Clarke averages 11.0. Clarke had a team-high 16 points in the Falcons' win over Drake.

Nutt said the Falcons' will be the quickest opponent the Redhawks have faced this season, and transition defense will be a key.

Bowling Green also is shooting 42.1 percent from behind the arc (16 of 38).

"I think the thing they do so well is they penetrate and they find the open man," Nutt said. "But I think what probably sets them apart is their big guys can step out and hit a 3, and they can pick and pop better than most, and that makes them a dangerous team."

Nutt has noticed improvements in his players, particularly on the defensive end, but thought they got "nonchalant" and "lackadaisical" late in their 74-68 defeat of Central Arkansas on Saturday.

"I think the biggest thing is intensity, execution both offensively and defensively, and just playing a lot smarter toward the end of the game," Nutt said of what needs to be better. "It just goes with time. It's still early in the season. As long as we improve every night out and every day out in practice, I'm good with that."