UPBEAT INDIANS PACK PERFECT OVC RECORD FOR TOUGH ROAD STRETCH

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Thanks to a spine-tingling win over Austin Peay Saturday, Southeast Missouri State University's basketball Indians are ready and willing to tackle three rugged road tests this week.

It all begins tonight as the Indians take on Middle Tennessee State in a 7 o'clock tipoff at the Murphy Center.

"This is a good way to get ready to go on the road," said Southeast forward Mike Branson just moments after Saturday's 62-60 home victory over Austin Peay that kept the Indians undefeated in Ohio Valley Conference play and atop the league standings.

Said Southeast coach Gary Garner, whose squad left Cape Girardeau Sunday morning, "It would have been tough to get on the bus if we had lost (to Austin Peay) after having such a big lead. But after winning, we're going to take plenty of confidence on the road."

By beating Austin Peay on Antonio Short's three-point play with 2.5 seconds left after the Governors had rallied from a 21-point deficit, the Indians improved to 10-2 overall and 3-0 in OVC play as they remained one-half game ahead of Murray State, which is 2-0. The Indians and Racers are the only OVC teams with perfect league records.

"It's still so early, but it's nice to be 3-0 in the league," said Southeast forward Roderick Johnson, who scored a team-high 15 points against Austin Peay.

The Indians will be beginning one of their most challenging weeks of the season tonight against the Raiders, who are 4-6 overall and 1-2 in OVC play following Saturday's 77-73 win at Morehead State.

MTSU finished tied for third in the OVC last season, behind champion Murray State and runner-up Southeast. The Raiders are once again expected to be a prime conference contender this season as they were picked fourth in the OVC preseason poll.

Thursday night, Southeast visits what appears to be an improved Tennessee-Martin squad. Then Saturday night, the Indians play at heavy league favorite Murray State in an early OVC showdown.

"We've got a big week ahead of us, and it's really good to go out on the road with a 3-0 record," Garner said. "These three games this week won't necessarily make us or break us, but every conference game is really important."

In MTSU, the Indians will be facing a squad that had been struggling prior to Saturday's road win over Morehead State, which will no doubt lift the Raiders' confidence level.

"They're coming off a big win and they'll be tough to beat on their own court, but it's always tough to win conference games on the road, I don't care what conference you're in," said Garner.

Garner is hoping the Indians can continue their road warrior theme they started last season, when Southeast went 8-1 in conference road games. So far this season, the Indians have already won at OVC contender Tennessee Tech in addition to posting a big victory at Missouri Valley Conference favorite Bradley.

"We played really well on the road last year and we've already had some big wins on the road this season," Garner said. "We seem to play with a lot of confidence on the road and that's always really important."

MTSU has already suffered its share of bad luck this season as Freddie Martinez, one of the OVC's best shooters, is out for the campaign with recurring knee problems. Martinez missed all of last season with a knee injury but played in several games this season before recently being sidelined.

Leading the Raiders offensively so far are three players. Iiro Tenngren, a 6-foot-8 sophomore forward, is averaging 14.8 points per game, while 6-6 senior forward Cedric Wallace and 6-5 junior guard Fernando Ortiz are both scoring 14.4 points a contest.

Tenngren is a Vanderbilt transfer while Ortiz transferred from St. Vincent's College in Pennsylvania and starred on the Puerto Rican national team last summer. Wallace was one of the Raiders' top players last season, when he was named to the OVC's all-newcomer squad.

"Those three are all very good players," said Garner.

The Raiders also boast a solid center, 6-10 junior Lee Nosse, who has improved considerably during his MTSU career. Nosse averages 6.9 points and five rebounds per game.

"He played well against us last year and he's a big factor inside," Garner said.

Southeast won all three meetings with MTSU last season, winning 73-63 in Murfreesboro, 69-55 in Cape Girardeau and 82-74 during the OVC Tournament semifinals in Nashville.

"We had a lot of success against them last year, but we're definitely going to have our hands full (tonight)," said Garner.