Southeast seeks first win in home debut

~ Southeast will face NAIA Culver-Stockton.

Scott Edgar doesn't believe his team will have any trouble getting into the proper frame of mind to play what should be an overmatched NAIA squad.

Edgar figures his Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team is too hungry for a win to overlook Culver-Stockton.

"I don't think we'll take them lightly," Edgar said. "We'll be hungry. We'll be ready."

The 0-2 Redhawks and 2-2 Wildcats square off tonight at the Show Me Center in Southeast's regular-season home opener.

"It's going to be nice to play at home," Edgar said. "A lot of times you have to go home to start momentum."

Southeast found it difficult to gain any consistent momentum during its first two games, both on the road against quality opponents.

The Redhawks were blistered at Xavier 90-59 Saturday night, then suffered a 90-71 defeat at Illinois State on Wednesday night.

Southeast led Illinois State 46-44 at halftime before the Redbirds rolled in the second half.

"Losing these first two games on the road ... we just have to play hard, get better in practice and get ready for this home game ... try to win," Southeast freshman center Will Bogan said.

Bogan has certainly done everything in his power to try and help the Redhawks break into the win column.

The former Bell City High School all-stater led Southeast with 23 points and six rebounds against Illinois State.

Through two games, the 6-foot-10, 290-pound Bogan is averaging team highs of 15 points and eight rebounds while shooting 55 percent from the field.

Bogan has helped fortify a Southeast inside game that was expected to be weakened by the absence of senior center Mike Rembert.

Rembert, last year's starter in the middle, has not yet played this season as he continues to rehabilitate from knee surgery.

Edgar said he expects Rembert to see his first action of the season tonight, although in a limited role.

"We're planning to get Mike a few short stretches," Edgar said.

Southeast has been down to 10 healthy available scholarship players.

In addition to Rembert being out, sophomore forward Jajuan Maxwell will likely redshirt after having knee surgery and junior point guard Hank Harris did not play against Illinois State.

Harris, battling shin splints that might have become a stress fracture, played only three minutes against Xavier. The backup to sophomore starter Roderick Pearson is not expected to see action tonight.

"We've got some depth issues at various positions," Edgar said.

Culver-Stockton went 12-18 last year and has split its first four games this season. The Wildcats have wins over William Woods and Graceland, while losing to Hannibal-LaGrange and Iowa Wesleyan.

The Wildcats are averaging just 60.5 points per game, which should be a welcome relief for a Southeast squad that has allowed its first two opponents 90 points apiece.

Culver-Stockton, located in Canton, Mo., features a pair of former Division I players.

Chris Booth, a 6-8, 245-pound senior forward, averaged 1.6 points and 2.1 rebounds last season at Youngstown State.

Elijah Miller, a 6-10, 235-pound junior center, averaged 2.4 points and 1.1 rebounds as a freshman at Houston in 2003-04.

So far this year, Booth is averaging 10.8 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds. Miller is averaging 4.3 points and 5.3 rebounds.

No signings yet

Southeast has not yet received any signed national letters of intent, but Martino Brock and Mark Caviness are said to be firm in their verbal commitments to play for the Redhawks.

By early next week at the latest, Southeast expects to have the letters of intent from combo guard Brock, a senior at Nashville (Tenn.) Christian Advancement Academy, and forward Caviness, a sophomore at Indian River (Fla.) Community College.

The week-long early signing period began Wednesday.

Noteworthy

• In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the Show Me Center will offer "throw-back price" concession specials at Southeast men's basketball games this month and next.

The promotion begins tonight with Pepsi fountain drinks for $1.

Other specials: Tuesday vs. Evansville, $2 hamburgers; Dec. 6 vs. Tennessee State, $2 bratwurst; Dec. 8 vs. Tennessee Tech, $1.25 hot dogs; Dec. 30 vs. Central Methodist, $1.50 Little Caesars pizza slices.