July 19, 2005

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - - An expanded 20-game Ohio Valley Conference schedule and a game at NCAA runner-up Illinois highlight the 2005-2006 Southeast Missouri State University basketball schedule.

The Redhawks will have 15 games at the Show Me Center including two exhibition games.

"The 20-game OVC schedule really changes our overall schedule," said Southeast coach Gary Garner. "With four more conference games and a game in the ESPN Bracket Buster, we really have five less games to schedule. We had existing contracts with IPFW (Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne) and South Dakota State and we were able to schedule Nebraska of the Big XII and Illinois of the Big 10 on the road.

"I know our players are really looking forward to playing at Illinois against the team that was ranked number one in the nation most of last season and I think our fans will look forward to four more OVC games."

Five OVC games will be in December including home games with Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech on Dec. 8 and 10. "We would prefer to play our conference games in January and February, but with the 20-game schedule we have to play games in December," Garner said. "Since all conference schools have to play games in December, everyone is in the same boat. It will just be different."

The Redhawks open the season with home exhibition games against UMSL on Nov. 5 and Arkansas Tech on Nov. 12. The regular season begins with two straight Show Me Center games against Truman State on Nov. 18 and IPFW on Nov. 21, before playing at South Dakota State on Thanksgiving Day and at Nebraska on Nov. 27.

The OVC schedule begins with a game at Tennessee-Martin on Dec. 3.

"Our players are excited about the schedule and a chance to challenge for a top spot in the OVC," Garner said. "The season will be here before you know it."