Indians' new schedule puts emphasis on Saturday nights

The Southeast Missouri State University men's basketball team will try to do its part to spice up Saturday nights this winter.

The school announced its 2002-03 schedule Wednesday, unveiling several intriguing Saturday matchups at the Show Me Center. Near the top of the list are home games against a pair of regional rivals, Southern Illinois on Dec. 7 and Southwest Missouri State on Dec. 21.

The Indians will play eight of their 15 home games on Saturday nights, the most in recent history. Other Saturday night clashes at the Show Me Center will include OVC power Murray State, defending conference champion Tennessee Tech, and Austin Peay and Eastern Illinois, usually among the top teams in the OVC.

The Indians will open the regular season Nov. 22 with a non-conference road game against Arkansas State, expected to be a contender for the Sun Belt Conference title. Other non-conference road games will be at Arkansas-Little Rock, Missouri-Kansas City, Creighton and Western Illinois. Creighton returns most of a team that defeated Florida in last year's NCAA Tournament.

Southeast will also play in a Tulane event on Thanksgiving weekend.

After a pair of exhibition games, Southeast will make its regular-season home debut Nov. 25 against Central Missouri.