SOUTHEAST SHOOTING IMPROVES, BUT `D' FALTERS AGAINST GOVS

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- In one of Southeast Missouri State University's best shooting games of the season, the defense lagged.

And that, said Southeast coach Ron Shumate, spelled the difference Saturday as the Indians lost their Ohio Valley Conference opener to Austin Peay 96-85.

The Indians blistered the nets for 51 percent shooting as they hit 36 of 70 shots. Helping that percentage greatly was center Bud Eley, who hit 13 of 17 shots -- all from within a few feet of the basket.

But the Indians allowed the Govs to shoot 44 percent from 3-point range (15 of 34). Bubba Wells and Joe Sibbitt combined to hit 13 of 25 3-pointers as they buried Southeast from long range.

"Defensively, I don't think our effort was there all night," said Shumate. "We knew exactly what they were going to do with Wells and Sibbitt, but we couldn't stop it."

Another thing that hurt the Indians, according to Shumate, was their defensive transition. Austin Peay got quite a few fast-break layups.

"I thought they beat us in two things," Shumate said. "No. 1, they got the ball out to their shooters. And No. 2, they beat us in defensive transition. They got a lot of easy baskets."

Of course, on the bright side, the Indians were able for most of the game to hang right with the team picked to win the OVC.

* Even though the Indians shot much better from the field overall than the Govs, who were 31 of 66, Austin Peay had a big edge in two areas.

First, the Govs were 19 of 24 from the free-throw line as compared to seven of 14 for the Indians.

And second, Austin Peay had just eight turnovers while the Indians turned the ball over 17 times. Several of Southeast's turnovers came on key second-half possessions when the Govs began to pull away.

* Much of the Govs' success with turnovers can be credited to stellar point guard Colby Pierce, who handles the ball the majority of time.

Pierce scored just four points as he took only five shots. But the senior dished out 15 assists -- Southeast had 13 assists as a team -- and committed only one turnover.