Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team will host balanced Bowling Green

The Bowling Green men's basketball team doesn't boast a superstar, and so far that's led to success.

The Falcons bring a 6-2 record and five-game winning streak to the Show Me Center tonight when they face the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks at 7 p.m.

"It looks like the best thing that they do is pass the basketball," Southeast coach Rick Ray said. "I think they're a very skilled team, they do a good job of sharing the basketball, and I think that's why you see the balanced scoring. I don't think there's like one go-to guy for them, which makes it a difficult matchup and a difficult scout. It seems like to me they do a really good job of sharing the basketball and finding the open man, and that all has to do with their ability to make the right passes."

BGSU averages 74 points per game and has three players averaging double figures: 6-foot-2 junior guard Zack Denny (14.4), 6-7 senior forward Spencer Parker (12.6) and 6-6 junior guard Wes Alcegaire (11.5).

Five other Falcons average more than 5 ppg, with 6-8 redshirt freshman forward Rasheed Worrel averaging 8.6 and 6-5 freshman guard Antwon Lillard averaging 7.5.

BGSU's two losses were to Cincinnati by 33 and North Dakota by 18. The Falcons have since picked up wins against Youngstown State, Florida Gulf Coast, Urbana, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Drake.

They shot 49.1 percent from the floor and 64.7 percent (11 of 17) from beyond the arc in their 75-63 win vs. Drake on Saturday. Denny had 23 points on 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point range. Alcegaire had 17 points and shot 3 of 6 from beyond the arc, and 6-0 senior guard David Joseph added 10.

BGSU is in its first season under coach Michael Huger. The Falcons were 21-12 and lost in the second round of the collegeinsider.com tournament in Chris Jans' lone season last year.

One of their wins a year ago was a 62-54 defeat of the Redhawks, who have started this season 0-7. The four Southeast returners from that game -- guards Antonius Cleveland, Isiah Jones, Marcus Wallace and Jamaal Calvin -- combined for seven points vs. the Falcons.

"It looks like they're very tied in to what they're trying to do as a team, and what I mean by that is, I don't think they rely as much on their individual defense, but it seems like they build a wall and don't let you get into the paint," Ray said about BGSU's defense, "so this is going to be a difficult game for us because obviously our strength is not shooting the basketball. What I think they're going to try to do is really close off and gap it up and keep us on the perimeter and not allow any splits. I think they're a very good defensive team as far as like making sure they don't allow any penetration, any paint touches."

Ray saw improvement in his team trying to get the ball inside in its 80-65 loss at Memphis on Saturday.

The Redhawks are shooting 37.7 percent from the floor on the season and 24.4 percent from 3-point range. Two Falcons players -- Denny and Alcegaire -- have combined for more 3-pointers (31) than Southeast's entire team (29).

Starting forwards Trey Vellum and Joel Angus III lead the Redhawks in field-goal percentage, shooting 51.1 percent and 43.8 percent, respectively. Vellum averages 10.6 points and 5.8 rebounds, while Angus averages 9.0 points and 5.1 rebounds. Antonius Cleveland leads the team at 12.6 ppg and averages 5.4 rpg.

Ray continues to stress patience on the offensive end to his players as they work to adapt to their motion offense.

"I think we're kind of playing into their hands if we try to attack the gaps right away," Ray said. "I think what we've got to do is we've got to move them first with passes and reverses, and then after that time when you get a chance after about two or three passes, then you start to look for your attack. If you're trying to attack their defense off the first pass all you're going to do is see multiple defenders and you're just driving yourself into trouble."

Ray said his players have grasped most of the concepts that he's presented them with, but they have yet to put together a complete game.

The all-too-common two to three minute lapses that the Redhawks have early to midway through the second half that allows their opponent to break open the game was avoided against the Tigers until the final few minutes. It remains a key for the win that still eludes them.

"I just think there's a difference in the carry-over from a competitive standpoint," Ray said. "It's easy to know what you're supposed to be doing when you're doing a walk-through or you're doing something five on zero, but now when you've got five extra bodies out there that's defending you, that's pressuring you, you've got referees, you've got a crowd, that's when you've got to start separating the difference between doing something five on zero and carrying it over to a game and executing."

Sophomore forward JT Jones, who did not make the trip to Memphis due to illness, practiced with the team on Monday and will be available to play as long as he doesn't have any sort of negative reaction from practicing.

Calvin, a junior guard, did not suit up against the Tigers due to a hamstring injury that will sideline him indefinitely.

"It seems to be a continuous problem, so I think our best course of action is just to shut him down, and how long we shut him down really depends on how much improvement he makes on that hamstring on a daily basis," Ray said. "From my standpoint, I can't imagine him being available for us for the next two to three weeks."