Redhawks visit Razorbacks tonight

~ The Southeast men will try to get their first win against the SEC's Arkansas

Southeast Missouri State men's basketball coach Dickey Nutt knows the winless Redhawks face a huge challenge tonight.

Southeast is in Fayetteville, Ark., for one of its three guarantee games this season, playing the University of Arkansas in a 7 p.m. tipoff.

Arkansas is paying Southeast $85,000 after Alabama-Birmingham paid $90,000 for the Nov. 13 opener that saw the Redhawks lose 78-56.

Southeast will receive $75,000 for its Dec. 6 matchup at Iowa State. All the money goes to the university's general athletic department revenue.

"These kinds of games are never easy, but we know it's something we have to do," Nutt said. "It doesn't get any tougher than playing an SEC opponent."

The Redhawks (0-4) came ever so close to their first victory Monday, falling 77-76 in overtime to Grambling State in their home opener. Southeast is playing four of its first five games on the road.

Arkansas (2-0) has not yet been challenged while playing its first two games at home, routing Grambling State 75-52 and Florida Gulf Coast 90-47. Southeast lost at Florida Gulf Coast 89-78 last week.

The Razorbacks are coming off a season that saw them go 14-18 overall and 7-9 in the Southeastern Conference.

Arkansas' top returning player is 6-foot junior guard Rotnei Clarke, one of the nation's premier long-range shooters.

Clarke averaged 15.1 points per game a year ago. He made 100 3-pointers while connecting on 42.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Clarke is the nation's fifth-best returning player in 3-pointers per game and sixth-best in 3-point percentage. He was named the best shooter in the SEC by The Sporting News and the No. 2 shooter in the nation by Athlon.

Clarke is off to a strong start, averaging 17 points through the two contests. He has hit 9 of 20 from 3-point range.

"This game will be a great challenge, but we have to worry about ourselves right now," Nutt said.

After tonight's contest, the Redhawks have three straight Show Me Center dates beginning Saturday against Arkansas State in a 4 p.m. tipoff.