~ Southeast tries to reach .500 tonight in Evansville.

It is a fact of life that virtually every team Southeast Missouri State plays this year will be more experienced than the Redhawks.

That's what happens when only two players saw any significant game action last season, which is the case with the Redhawks.

But it's doubtful that very few teams Southeast faces will be more experienced than Evansville (2-2), which hosts the Redhawks (2-3) in a 7:05 p.m. tipoff tonight.

The Purple Aces returned all five starters from last year's squad that was 10-19 overall and tied for seventh in the 10-team Missouri Valley Conference at 5-13.

Included among the Aces' veterans are three seniors who have been regulars since they were freshmen.

"This is going to be a very challenging game for us," Southeast first-year coach Scott Edgar said. "It will be a huge task going on the road.

"But we are improving. We're finding ways to win, that's the most important thing. We'll be ready to go play."

The Redhawks believe their ability to win a pair of close games after being blown out in their first three contests will aid their confidence.

Southeast lost its first three games by at least 27 points. The Redhawks' current winning streak features a pair of three-point victories, including Friday's 78-75 triumph against California-Riverside in their home opener.

"We had a tough showing in Alaska [during the Top of the World Classic], but I think we're starting to play better," junior center Mike Rembert said. "I feel we'll be all right."

Said senior guard Terrick Willoughby: "It's taking time, but I think we're getting better every game. Knowing we can win close games should help us."

The Redhawks showed glimpses of executing Edgar's "Fast and Furious" style when they reached by far a season-high point total against UC-Riverside while shooting a season-best 50 percent from the field.

Southeast did not score as many as 78 points against a Division I opponent last year, although the Redhawks did go for 81 against NAIA Central Methodist.

The Redhawks returned only two players who saw action in more than three games last year.

With the new up-tempo style that Edgar has the Redhawks playing, he figured it would take time for them to get going.

"It's a learning process for us," Edgar said. "I still believe in this team."

While Edgar said he has seen significant improvement in recent games, he would like to be able to consistently rely on more players.

Edgar started the season getting 11 players significant action.

But in the last two games, he has trimmed his bench to about seven or eight players. In the second half against Cal-Riverside, seven players saw the bulk of the action.

"My goal is to develop my bench even more," Edgar said. "We need to find one or two more players so we can be nine or 10 deep."

Edgar's search for more depth could be bolstered by the availability of senior center Tyrell White, who missed all of preseason practice with a foot injury.

White has suited up for every game, but he has not yet played. Despite seeing limited action last year, he is Southeast's third-most experienced player, behind Willoughby and junior point guard Paul Paradoski.

"The Cal-Riverside game was really the first time he was available to play," Edgar said. "Hopefully he can start helping us some."

Evansville, also riding a two-game winning streak, has been led by 6-foot-8, 240-pound senior forward Matt Webster, one of those four-year starters who is averaging 17.5 points per game.

Senior guard Kyle Anslinger, also a regular since he was a freshman, is the Aces' other double-figure scorer at 11.3 points per contest. He has hit nine of 19 3-pointers (47.4 percent).

Evansville has not had a winning season since going 18-12 in 1999-2000. The Aces have gone 5-13 in the Missouri Valley Conference the past three years.

Still, after losing to Drake -- another MVC team that has finished toward the bottom of the standings in recent years -- by 27 points in Alaska, the Redhawks figure to be decided underdogs tonight.

"We know they'll be a tough team to beat," Willoughby said. "But we're going there to hopefully come out with a win."