Aug. 7, 2007

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - An appearance in the second annual Chicago Invitational Challenge and a home game against the Evansville Aces of the Missouri Valley Conference highlight the Southeast Missouri State University 2007-2008 basketball schedule.

The Redhawks will have 15 games at the Show Me Center including a Nov. 20 matchup with Evansville. The Redhawks will begin play with two exhibition games against former Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association teams, Lincoln on Nov. 1 and Missouri-Rolla on Nov. 3.

The Redhawks regular season opening game will be at Xavier on Saturday, Nov. 10 in the opening round of the Chicago Invitational Challenge. The second game of the tournament will be at Illinois State on Wednesday, Nov. 14. The third game will be against Coppin State at the Sears Centre in suburban Chicago on Friday, Nov. 23. The following day, Nov. 24, Southeast will play either North Carolina-Wilmington or Longwood.

"It will be an honor and a big challenge for our team to play against the teams in the Chicago Invitational Challenge," said Southeast coach Scott Edgar. "Opening at Xavier against a team that nearly beat Ohio State in last year's NCAA tournament will be a challenge. Illinois State is a good Missouri Valley team and the teams we play in Chicago will be tough games. This early tournament will definitely give us a quick indication of how our team stacks up.

"Overall, we face a very demanding schedule that begins with the game at Xavier, a preseason Top 20 team nationally," Edgar said. "We also have three games with Missouri Valley Conference teams and a game at Tulsa, a team that won 20 games last season. The Ohio Valley Conference will be better than last year with 10 of the top 15 scorers returning. Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee Tech and Tennessee State will all have strong teams and I look for the Redhawks to be in the mix."

The Redhawks will open OVC play at the Show Me Center on Dec. 6, hosting Tennessee State with Tennessee Tech following on Dec. 8. The Tennessee Tech game will be part of Hall of Fame Weekend that will include the induction of the 1985-86 Southeast basketball team that finished second nationally in NCAA Division II.

"Getting off to a quick start in the OVC would be a big confidence builder for our team," Edgar said. "We expect a big crowd for the game against Tennessee Tech and it will be great to have Coach Ron Shumate and his great team on hand for the game."

Other non-conference opponents for the Redhawks will include Culver Stockton at the Show Me Center on Nov. 16 and games at Louisiana Tech, Bradley and Tulsa. The Redhawks will also have a road game in the Bracket Buster on Feb. 23.