TSU PROVIDES FIRST OVC TEST

Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians have already played two physically talented teams in Colorado and Bradley.

Tonight, when the Indians open their Ohio Valley Conference schedule against Tennessee State at the Show Me Center, the Tigers figure to put on the floor the kind of talent that both Colorado and Bradley possessed.

"Tennessee State is very talented, very athletic," said Southeast coach Gary Garner. "Colorado was very athletic and so was Bradley. Tennessee State will have those kinds of athletes."

The Indians (3-1) will get an early indication of how they might stack up in the OVC race because the Tigers (2-1) were picked to finish second out of 10 teams in a preseason poll of the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Southeast was tabbed for sixth in that same poll.

"It's going to be a great challenge for our team right off the bat," Garner said. "We should find out a lot about our team, both against Tennessee State and Austin Peay (Saturday night in another OVC home game."

TSU coach Frankie Allen is saying the same thing -- that the Tigers will find out a lot about themselves during tonight's game and also Saturday's second OVC contest at Eastern Illinois.

"We're struggling, trying to put the pieces together," said Allen. "We'll know a lot more about our team this week."

Allen has been lamenting the injuries to talented point guard Kareem Gilbert, one of the OVC's assists leaders last season who has seen only limited action in one game so far because of back and pelvic problems. Gilbert was a second-team all-OVC selection last year.

"Kareem played a little in our first game but he hasn't played in our last two," Allen said. "He hasn't been practicing. He's supposed to have some tests done this week. I would say he's probably doubtful (for tonight), unless the tests come back good."

Even without Gilbert, the Tigers don't appear to be lacking for talented players, although they are extremely young, with three sophomores, a freshman and a junior in the starting lineup.

Leading the way offensively has been 6-3 sophomore guard Kevin Samuel, who made the OVC's all-newcomer team last year. Samuel is averaging 17.7 points per game.

"Kevin has probably been our most consistent performer on both ends of the floor so far," said Allen.

Jason Johnson, a rugged 6-8 junior forward who earned second-team all-OVC honors last year, is averaging 15.7 points per game, the same as 6-3 freshman guard Jamie Roberts.

Julian Bankston, a 6-10 sophomore center who sat out last season after transferring from the College of Charleston, averages 10 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game.

Rounding out the starting lineup is 6-6 sophomore forward Keith Samuel, who averages seven points a contest. Keith Samuel joined his brother Kevin on last year's all-OVC newcomer team.

Adding punch off the bench are 6-5 senior Seth Huber (9.7 ppg) and 6-6 junior Gerald Morris (7.0 ppg).

While Johnson and Bankston provide strength inside, the Tigers are getting impressive three-point shooting from Kevin Samuel (10 of 16), Roberts (10 of 21) and Huber (eight of 14).

"Johnson may be their best player, their big kid (Bankston) looks good and they've got several kids who shoot the three exceptionally well," Garner said. "They're just a really talented basketball team. We're going to have to play very well."

While Garner is impressed with the Tigers, Allen said he has come away extremely impressed with the Indians, especially their big win over Bradley.

"I've seen some tape and they really look good. They really are playing well together," he said. "Bud (Eley) always plays well against us. That's always a big key, trying to neutralize him.

"But the other guys are playing well. (David) Montgomery and (Calvert) White have been around, then you throw in their guards, (Cory) Johnson and (Kahn) Cotton. They have a pretty solid starting five and some kids off the bench are playing well."

Tennessee State at SEMO

7:30 p.m., Show Me Center

Probable Starters

SEMO (3-1)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Calvert White F Sr. 6-4 10.8

David Montgomery F Jr. 6-8 9.8

Bud Eley C Sr. 6-10 17.5

Cory Johnson G Jr. 6-0 15.0

Kahn Cotton G Jr. 5-10 6.7

TSU (2-1)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Jason Johnson F Jr. 6-8 15.7

Keith Samuel F So. 6-6 7.0

Julian Bankston C So. 6-10 10.0

Jamie Roberts G Fr. 6-3 15.7

Kevin Samuel G So. 6-3 17.7

Series: TSU leads 7-5

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