Southeast Missouri (6-8, 0-1 OVC) at Tennessee State (3-12, 0-0 OVC)

Date: Saturday, Jan. 3
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m., CT
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Arena: Gentry Center (10,500)
Series History: Tennessee State leads, 24-19
Coaches: Dickey Nutt (Southeast Missouri), Dana Ford (Tennessee State)

Media Coverage
Radio: ESPN 92.9 FM and Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
Video: OVC Digital Network
Live Stats: TSUTigers.com
Twitter Updates: @SEMOmbb
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri

Redhawks Resume Action
Southeast Missouri (6-8, 0-1) resumes Ohio Valley Conference action when it visits Tennessee State (3-12, 0-0) Saturday. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m., CT, at the Gentry Center.

Follow the Redhawks
Saturday's game will be broadcast live on the radio at ESPN 92.9 FM and Real Rock 99.3 FM. Erik Sean will provide play-by-play. Live stats can be accessed online at TSUTigers.com. Free video is available online at the OVC Digital Network.

Series History
Southeast is 19-24 all-time in its series against Tennessee State. The Redhawks are looking to win their second-straight game against TSU after beating the Tigers, 102-94, in Cape Girardeau last season. Southeast last won consecutive games in its series against TSU in 2006-07 (92-78) and 2007-08 (102-95). The victory in 2007-08, however, was vacated due to NCAA infractions. The Redhawks have dropped two-straight to the Tigers in Nashville, last winning at the Gentry Center, 74-66, in 2009-10.

Southeast Comes Up Short in OVC Opener
The Redhawks lost a 78-77 heartbreaker to two-time defending Ohio Valley Conference regular-season champion Belmont during their league-opener on Jan. 1. Southeast, which played a New Year's Day game for the first time since 2005. Despite shooting 1-of-6 from the field and turning the ball over four times in the last 5:10, Belmont found a way to win. The Redhawks scored four-straight points and pulled to within one on a Jarekious Bradley jumper with 43 seconds left. Southeast later had the ball twice in the final five seconds, but didn't get a shot off.

Free Throw Streak
Jarekious Bradley, which leads the Ohio Valley Conference and ranks 12th in the nation in free throw percentage (.917), boasts a season-long streak of 17-consecutive free free throws entering Saturday's game. Bradley has not missed a free throw in five-straight starts. In fact, the last time he missed was with 6:30 left in the game vs. Southern Illinois on Dec. 10. Bradley is 33-of-36 at the charity strip this year and recently knocked down a season-best 5-of-5 free throws at Belmont (Jan. 1).

Just Getting Started
Three more teams, including Tennessee State, Murray State and Morehead State begin their Ohio Valley Conference seasons Saturday. Nine of the league's 12 teams open conference action this week. Eastern Kentucky, Austin Peay and UT Martin are the only three not tipping off OVC play during the opening week of the league season.

On the Road Again
Southeast plays its ninth road game of the season when it travels to Tennessee State Saturday. The Redhawks are 1-7 on the road a little over two months into the 2014-15 campaign. Southeast, which has dropped five-straight away contests, last won outside of Cape Girardeau when it beat Central Arkansas, 74-68, on Nov. 22.

One to Go
Jarekious Bradley is one three-pointer away from reaching 100 in his career. Bradley is 99-of-275 from three-point range in two years at Southeast. He has made three or more three-pointers in four of his starts this season. Bradley leads the team with 24 three-point field goals made.

Starting Streak
Nino Johnson has started in 20-consecutive games dating back to last season, presently the longest streak among active players. Johnson scored double figures 13 times and pulled down double-digit rebounds on five occasions during that stretch. The last time Johnson wasn't in the starting lineup was vs. UT Martin on Feb. 12, 2014.

Closing In
Senior forward Nino Johnson is nine blocks away from breaking Southeast's all-time career record. Johnson had a single-season record 84 blocks in 2012-13. He currently has 148 in his career and ranks second behind William "Bud" Eley (156 blocks, 1995-99). Johnson was third on the team with 28 swats a year ago. He leads the Redhawks and ranks third in the conference with 28 blocks in 14 starts this year.

Thompson Gets Season-High
Point guard J.J. Thompson registered a season-high 15 points in his latest start at Belmont (Jan. 1). Thompson shot 4-of-8 from the field and knocked down three 3-pointers as one of four starters with double figures in the scoring column. He made a season-high 4-of-4 free throws, as well. It marked the third time Thompson scored double-digits this season.

Experience Factor
Dickey Nutt has coached in 548 games in 19 seasons as an NCAA Division I head coach. Nutt spent 13 years as head coach at Arkansas State and is in his sixth season at Southeast. He ranks 47th in victories among the 100 coaches who have led programs while a member of the Ohio Valley Conference from 1948 to the present.

About Tennessee State
Tennessee State enters its Ohio Valley Conference opener with an overall record of 3-12. TSU is under the direction of Dana Ford, one of two first-year head coaches in the conference this season. The Tigers are last in the OVC in scoring (58.4 ppg), scoring margin (-9.3), free throw percentage (.561), rebounding defense (38.5 rpg), rebounding margin (-4.3), assists (9.7 apg), steals (5.3 spg), turnover margin (-2.60) and assist/turnover ratio (0.7).  TSU, however, does have the league's top three-point field goal percentage defense, limiting its opponents to 30.9 percent from beyond the arc. The Tigers, who recently snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 73-62 win over Kennesaw State (Dec. 31), have a league-high 12 losses this year.