INDIANS SUSPEND SHORT

Southeast Missouri State University guard Antonio Short will miss the Indians' first three games -- only one of them a regular-season contest -- after being suspended.

Short's suspension will include two exhibition games, tonight against Teem Reebok and Nov. 11 against the Dreambuilders. He will also miss the regular-season opener Nov. 17 against Truman State. Short will be allowed to practice with the team during the suspension.

In a press release issued by the university Friday, Southeast coach Gary Garner indicated that Short was suspended for violating unspecified team rules.

Later, at the Indians' afternoon practice, in which Short took part, Garner said, "Anything like this, we keep in house, in family. Any violation of team rules is handled that way. It's just the most fair thing to do."

Short, a 6-foot-2 senior from Louisville, Ky., started 22 games for the Indians last season, averaging 8.5 points and 2.8 rebounds. After missing the early part of the season with a wrist injury, he came on strong and averaged nearly 13 points over the final six games, including 14 against LSU during a 64-61 loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Short, who played two seasons at Moberly Community College before coming to Southeast, is expected to join senior point guard Michael Stokes in forming one of the Ohio Valley Conference's top backcourts this season.