SEMO TO PLAY FROM COMFORT OF DOME; INDIANS FORFEIT HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE TO PLAY IN TWA DOME VS. SIU

ST. LOUIS -- Southeast Missouri State University's basketball team gave up a home game to play Southern Illinois in St. Louis.

The Indians are hoping it will be Dome Sweet Dome for them tonight.

Southeast and SIU -- two longtime rivals -- will square off in a 5:15 p.m. tipoff at the Trans World Dome as part of a college basketball doubleheader dubbed the Earth Grains Classic.

Saint Louis and Kansas State will meet at 8 p.m. in the nightcap.

SIU was supposed to play at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau this year. But Southeast coach Gary Garner figured the chance to perform in St. Louis -- where Southeast has plenty of alumni and recruits heavily -- was an opportunity not worth passing up.

"You'd always like to play it at home," said Garner. "But I think this is a really good opportunity for our program."

Garner doesn't really know what to make of playing in a dome, particularly the cavernous TWA Dome that serves as the home stadium of the St. Louis football Rams.

"I don't think I've ever played or coached in a dome before," Garner said. "I'm sure it's going to be a little different, but I don't think it's going to really be a factor."

In order to get a bit familiar with the new surroundings, the Indians practiced at the TWA Dome for about two hours late Sunday afternoon.

"It looks like a nice place," said Garner.

Garner hopes he likes the place as much tonight. In order for that to happen, the Indians need to break a five-game losing streak against the Salukis.

SIU has won five straight in a series that resumed in 1993. Included in that streak is an 81-62 romp last season at the SIU Arena. Southeast last beat SIU in 1982 in Carbondale.

"We haven't beaten them in a long time so it's a really big game for us," said Garner. "Both schools try and recruit some of the same players and we both recruit in St. Louis. From that aspect, it's important."

The Salukis, under first-year coach Bruce Weber -- a former longtime Purdue assistant who was a finalist for the Southeast job that Garner got two years ago -- have only a 3-5 record.

But Garner, whose team is 6-3, points out that the Salukis will be a more than formidable opponent for the Indians.

"It's a game we can win if we play well, but it's also a game they can win," Garner said. "They're not a great basketball team, but they're good."

Some of the Salukis' results shows how capable they are. SIU lost at Murray State by just three points to open the season and the Salukis defeated Saint Louis by 12 points at home two weeks ago.

"Them beating Saint Louis by 12 shows you how dangerous they are," said Garner.

The Salukis, who average just over 63 points per game, are getting the bulk of their offense from three players.

Monte Jenkins, a 6-foot-4 senior guard, leads the way with 14.5 points per game. Jenkins is shooting just 42 percent from the field overall but he's hitting nearly 44 percent of his 3-pointers (20 of 46).

Chris Thunnell, a 6-9 junior forward, averages 12.9 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds.

Ricky Collum, a 5-11 junior point guard, contributes 11 points. He's shooting 37 percent from 3-point range (21 of 57).

No other Saluki averages more than six points a contest.

"They have three really good players in Jenkins, Thunnell and Collum, but I don't think they're extremely deep," said Garner. "Jenkins and Thunnell are both very athletic and Jenkins can really shoot the three."

SIU has been a prolific 3-point shooting team so far this season, averaging about 26 3-point attempts per game. By contrast, Southeast averages about 16 long-range shots a contest.

"They've kind of lived and died by the 3-pointer so far," Garner said. "We've got to do a good job of defending out there."

Four of Southeast's starters are averaging in double figures and a fifth is close.

Senior center Bud Eley leads the way at 14.6 points and he's also grabbing a team-high 9.2 rebounds.

Also in double figures offensively are junior forward Roderick Johnson (12.3 ppg), junior forward Mike Branson (10.2 ppg) and senior guard Cory Johnson (10.2 ppg).

Senior point guard Kahn Cotton (9.0 ppg) rounds out the starting five.

Following tonight's game, the Indians play at nationally-ranked Oklahoma State Wednesday night to close out the 1998 portion of their schedule.

"We know it going to be extremely difficult to win at Oklahoma State," said Garner. "That's why this game is so big. It would mean we'd be no worse than 7-4 going into the new year."

INDIAN NOTES: Sophomore guard Jeramy Biles did not make the trip with Southeast team and will not be with the squad for either the SIU or Oklahoma State games.

Biles' young son suffered an injury that required surgery late last week and he elected to remain home.

A Charleston High product, Biles started Southeast's first seven games at point guard but has come off the bench the last two contests.

Biles' absence means that freshman Fred Abraham, who saw quite a bit of action at the point early in the season when Cotton was injured, will probably see increased playing time again...

The TWA Dome seats about 35,000 for basketball. A crowd of more than 20,000 is expected for the doubleheader, although the majority probably won't be in attendance when the opener tips off.

SEMO vs. Southern Illinois

5:15 p.m., TWA Dome, St. Louis

Probable Starters

SEMO (6-3)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Mike Branson F Jr. 6-6 10.2

Roderick Johnson F Jr. 6-6 12.3

Bud Eley C Sr. 6-10 14.6

Cory Johnson G Sr. 6-0 10.2

Kahn Cotton G Sr. 5-10 9.0

SIU (3-5)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Josh Cross F So. 6-4 4.4

Chris Thunnell F Jr. 6-9 12.9

Derrick Tillmon C Jr. 6-7 6.0

Ricky Collum G Jr. 5-11 11.0

Monte Jenkins G Sr. 6-4 14.5

Series: SIU leads 60-42

Last meeting: SIU won 81-62 last season

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