Southeast Missouri State University's men's basketball team broke a 15-game losing streak against Murray State earlier this season, and in the process the Indians snapped the Racers' 47-game home winning streak.

Can the Indians beat the Racers a second straight time?

Today, fans at what is expected to be a completely sold-out Show Me Center -- along with a national television audience -- will find out.

The Indians and Racers square off in a 1 p.m. Ohio Valley Conference showdown that will mark the first Southeast men's game to ever be nationally televised from the Show Me Center. ESPN2 is airing the contest across the country.

"I think just about everybody, our fans and their fans, have been talking about this game since we beat them on their court (84-78 on Jan. 15)," said Southeast coach Gary Garner. "We've tried not to look ahead to it, but now it's here and it should be a tremendous college basketball game in an tremendous atmosphere."

Garner emphasized all week how the Indians could not afford to think about the Racers for even an instant until they were done with the first two games of a three-game homestand.

Southeast's players evidently listened to their coach because they took care of business in rolling past Middle Tennessee Tuesday and Tennessee-Martin Thursday.

But senior forward Roderick Johnson admitted that not looking ahead to Murray State was a difficult task. And he's happy that the big rematch is now here.

"It was hard, but we tried to stay focused, and I believe we did a good job of that," said Johnson. "But I can't wait for the game to get here. I've never played in front of a sold-out crowd before in college. It's what college basketball is all about.

"Even if wasn't on ESPN2, it would be exciting. But knowing that people all over the country are going to be watching, it makes it extra special."

ESPN2 will be getting a battle for first place in the OVC. The Indians, 18-5 overall, lead the league at 11-3. The Racers, 17-7 overall, are in second place at 10-3, just one-half game behind Southeast.

"Whoever wins this game won't win the conference, but they'll definitely have the inside track," Garner said.

Based on what has happened over the past two seasons, Southeast vs. Murray State is turning into one of the fiercest college hoop rivalries around.

Let's turn back the clock to last year, when Garner's second Southeast team had its finest Division I season ever, going 20-9 overall, finishing second in the OVC and reaching the championship game of the league tournament.

But last season could have been so much better had it not been for the Racers. Murray State beat Southeast three times, including twice at the buzzer.

First, Aubrey Reese hit a tough shot to knock off the Indians by a point at the Show Me Center. Then, in the finals of the OVC Tournament, Reese's miraculous runner that went just over the outstretched fingers of 6-foot-10 center Bud Eley again stunned the Indians and denied them their first NCAA Tournament berth on the Division I level.

"Reese hit two unbelievable shots against us last year," said Garner. "He's that kind of player."

The Indians exacted some measure of revenge on Jan. 15 when they finally beat the Racers for the first time since the 1991-92 season, and for the first time in Murray since 1945.

While that game did not feature a buzzer-beating shot, it still contained all kinds of excitement. With less than 13 minutes left in the second half, Garner was ejected after two technical fouls. When he departed, the Indians trailed by 12 points and appeared ready to be blown out of the Regional Special Events Center.

But, apparently sparked by their coach's ouster, the Indians immediately went on a huge run to take control of the game. They were then able to hold off the Racers down the stretch.

"I plan to stick around and see all of this one," said Garner with a laugh.

Nobody is sure what's going to happen today, but Garner would be surprised if the contest is not close.

"I think it's going to be that kind of a game," he said. "Murray State has a tremendous basketball team and we haven't lost at home this season (the Indians are 13-0 at the Show Me Center)."

While they are at the top of the OVC standings, separated by just one-half game, Southeast and Murray State are certainly not similar squads.

The Racers rely on a high-powered offense that ranks second in the OVC at nearly 80 points per game, fueled by Reese and Isaac Spencer. Defensively, Murray State is seventh in the league, giving up 75 points a contest.

Reese, a 6-foot senior guard who has made a career out of hitting huge shots, leads the OVC in scoring (21.2 points per game) and assists (5.2). He also ranks among the league's better 3-point shooters at nearly 39 percent.

Spencer, a 6-6 senior forward, is second in the OVC in scoring (19.7) and first in rebounding (9.0). He is the league's fourth-best field-goal shooter at 56 percent.

"Reese and Spencer are just tremendous players," Garner said. "You won't stop them, but if you can hold each one under his average by even a little, it gives yourself a chance to win."

The Indians rely on a stifling defense that is by far the OVC's best statistically, allowing 61 points per game. Opponents are shooting 38 percent from the field against Southeast.

Offensively, the Indians rank eighth in the league as they score 69 points per game. No Southeast player ranks among the league's top 15 scorers.

"They'll play to their strength, and it's important we play to our strength," said Garner.

Today, a jam-packed Show Me Center and people all over America will find out whose strength prevails.