A year ago, the Southeast Missouri State men’s basketball team was struggling to win away games. The team didn’t win its first contest until Dec. 22 and won a total of five all season. Now, the team already has won its fourth game of the year on Dec. 1.
Southeast has seen plenty success through the non-conference schedule before heading into conference play in January. The schedule has been tough, however, playing two schools within the Big Ten Conference, Illinois and Indiana, which ranked 13th at the time of the contest.
Coach Rick Ray gives credit to the depth the team has this year compared to last year. The injuries Southeast has dealt with this year haven’t crippled them, and they have remained competitive.
“Us having depth and having a roster is the biggest difference,” Ray said.
Ray also said the team’s skill level is better this year. The recruiting that Ray has done has been smaller size wise and has given more skill position players opportunities.
Redshirt senior forward Trey Kellum said it all starts with defense. Ray agreed.
“Coach has been really on us about closing out and boxing out,” Kellum said. “We want our identity to be a tough-nosed team.”
Southeast enjoyed its latest win on superhero night while competing against Central Arkansas. After trailing by 7 points at halftime, Southeast began the second half on a 36-1 run to start the route of Central Arkansas, 87-63.
"I was really pleased with the way we competed in the second half," Ray said. "We played with a sense of urgency and that was the difference. We got a lot of loose balls that really helped ignite our transition offense."
Senior guard Jamaal Calvin had nine assists and zero turnovers in the game. Southeast as a whole had 28 assists on the 33 field goals that they made in the game.
"That is an amazing statistic," Ray said. "Twenty-eight assists on 33 made baskets indicates you are really sharing the basketball."
Southeast will compete again at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Show Me Center against a 4-2 Missouri State team.
