SOUTHEAST PACKS PERFECT RECORD FOR MONTANA TOURNEY

Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball coach Gary Garner figures the Indians could very well be 7-0 by the end of this weekend.

But Garner also figures the Indians could also wind up 5-2 if they're not at the top of their game.

That's how competitive and balanced he believes the four-team KGVO Coca-Cola Classic hosted by the University of Montana will be.

According to Garner, picking a winner right now is virtually impossible.

"I really like this tournament because it looks like all four teams are really equal," said Garner. "I think any of the four teams could win it, and I think any of the four teams could lose both games. That's what should make this tournament really exciting.

"You know a lot of tournaments have the host team and then three teams they know they can beat. Montana is bringing in three teams that are all capable of winning the tournament. I consider Montana the favorite because the tournament is played on their home floor, but we're going out there to get two wins."

Joining the host squad and Southeast in the two-day event in Missoula, Mont., will be Idaho and Robert Morris.

The 5-0 Indians -- who are off to their best start since the 1989-90 team started out 9-0 at the Division II level -- have by far the best record in the tournament.

But Garner is probably right when he suggests that the squads all should be fairly equal because the other three have suffered quite a few losses against nationally prominent programs.

Montana is just 1-4 but the Grizzlies -- who lost by just five points to Southeast on Nov. 27 at the Show Me Center -- have lost to nationally ranked Gonzaga and they suffered a two-point overtime defeat at Big Sky Conference rival Idaho.

Idaho is 2-4, but the Vandals beat a solid Oral Roberts squad and suffered three of their losses at Oklahoma State, Oregon State and Washington State. Idaho went 16-11 last season and finished third in the Big Sky Conference.

Robert Morris, located in Pennsylvania, is 2-2 heading into a game tonight at Pittsburgh. The Colonials own a win over East Carolina and one of their losses came at West Virginia.

"Those three teams have all played very tough early schedules, with a lot of road games," Garner said. "I don't think you can go by their records at all."

Southeast will open the tournament Friday at 7:35 p.m. (CST) with a rematch against Montana. The final first-round game will pit Idaho against Robert Morris at 9:35.

Saturday, the third-place game will be at 7:35 p.m., with the championship contest to follow at 9:35.

All the games will be played at the newly-renovated Adams Center, which has a capacity of 7,500.

"We're really looking forward to the tournament," said Garner. "They really support basketball out there so there should be good crowds both nights."

* Southeast leads the Ohio Valley Conference in four major statistical categories while several Indians rank high among the individual leaders.

The Indians lead the OVC in field-goal percentage (50.0), 3-point field-goal percentage (38.6), scoring defense (62.4 points per game allowed) and scoring margin (15.4 points per game).

Individual leaders are Nyah Jones in field-goal percentage (64.5) and Michael Stokes in assists (5.4 per game).

Brian Bunche doesn't have enough attempts to qualify for the league statistics, but he is shooting 72.7 percent from the field, hitting eight of 11 shots.

Mike Branson, Southeast's leading scorer, is sixth in free-throw percentage (86.7), fourth in 3-point percentage (45.5) and fourth in blocked shots (1.4 per game).

Roderick Johnson is fourth in field-goal percentage (62.2) and seventh in rebounding (7.2 per game).

Stokes is sixth in steals (2.2 per game) while Amory Sanders is fifth in 3-point percentage (44.4).

* Nothing demonstrates the Indians' balance so far more than the fact Southeast's leading scorer -- Branson, at 12.6 points per game -- is tied for just 20th in the OVC.

Four other players are averaging in double figures: Stokes (11.6), Johnson (11.6), Sanders (11.4) and Antonio Short (11.0), who has played just two games. Short is out for a few more weeks with a broken wrist.

Jones (9.8) is just off double figures as he has provided the Indians' a major inside scoring threat off the bench.

"We're getting good play from a lot of different people," Garner said.