Southeast Missouri (2-10, 0-0 OVC) vs. Belmont (8-6, 0-0 OVC)

Game Information
Date: Thursday, December 31, 2015
Tipoff: Noon, CT 
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Arena: Show Me Center (7,000)
Series: Belmont leads, 3-0
Head Coaches: Rick Ray (39-70 overall; 2-10 at Southeast; 0-0 OVC). Rick Byrd (719-373 overall; 627-318 at Belmont, 39-9 OVC).

Media Information 
Radio: ESPN 92.9 FM, Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean) | Listen Live
Video: OVC Digital Network
Live Stats: GoSoutheast.com
Twitter Updates: @SEMOmbb
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri

Southeast Opens OVC Play
Southeast Missouri (2-10) opens Ohio Valley Conference play against preseason-favorite Belmont (8-6) Thursday. Tip-off is set for Noon, CT, at the Show Me Center.

Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen to Thursday's game live on the radio at ESPN 92.9 FM and Real Rock 99.3 FM with Erik Sean on the call from the Show Me Center. Video can be accessed online at OVCDigitalNetwork.com. Live stats are available at GoSoutheast.com. Twitter updates will be provided @SEMOmbb.

Series History
Southeast and Belmont meet for just the fourth time Thursday. The Bruins are 3-0 all-time against the Redhawks, winning twice in Nashville, Tennessee and once in Cape Girardeau. Belmont scored 107 points in each of its first two wins over Southeast before edging the Redhawks, 78-77, at the Curb Event Center last season (Jan. 1, 2015).  

Deja Vu
For the second-straight year, Southeast opens Ohio Valley Conference play against Belmont. The Bruins, who joined the OVC in 2012-13, won the East Division in its first three years in the league. Belmont is 39-9 all-time in OVC play and is the defending OVC Tournament champion and overwhelming favorite to win the East again this season.

Conference Openers
The Redhawks are 9-15 all-time in Ohio Valley Conference openers. Southeast opened league play with a win in two of the last four seasons. The Redhawks are 12-11 in OVC home-openers, losing to Belmont, 107-94, the last time they began conference play at the Show Me Center.

Happy New Year!
Southeast plays a game on New Year's Eve for just the fourth time in its NCAA Division I era. The Redhawks are 0-3 in games on New Year's Eve, last hosting SIU Edwardsville (70-69) in 2008-09. Southeast also lost at DePaul (57-50) in 2003-04 and vs. Old Dominion (74-61) in 1996-96 (San Juan, Puerto Rico).

Winning Streak
The Redhawks head into the Ohio Valley Conference season on a two-game winning streak, their first of the 2015-16 campaign. Southeast beat Missouri State (Dec. 22), 78-74, on the road and NAIA member Harris-Stowe (Dec. 27), 94-84, at home. Another victory would give the Redhawks their longest winning streak since Southeast won five in a row from Feb. 20-Mar. 5 during the 2013-14 season.

McGill Earns OVC Freshman of the Week
Guard Eric McGill was named the adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week on Dec. 28. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, McGill put together back-to-back double-digit scoring games for the first time in his Southeast career, helping lead the Redhawks to a pair of wins. He scored 10 points in the team's first victory of the season at Missouri State (Dec. 22) and turned around to notch a season-high 15 points on 7-of-10 field goals vs. Harris-Stowe (Dec. 27). McGill also added 11 assists, four steals and shot 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from the field on the week. McGill earned the first OVC Freshman of the Week honor of his career, joining Austin Peay guard Josh Robinson (Player), Jacksonville State guard Greg Tucker (Co-Newcomer) and Morehead State forward DeJuan Marrero (Co-Newcomer) as this week's honorees.

Balanced Scoring
All five of Southeast's starters scored double figures in two-straight games. Antonius Cleveland, Joel Angus III, Isiah Jones, Eric McGill and Trey Kellum were the five who accomplished the feat vs. Harris-Stowe (Dec. 27) and at Missouri State (Dec. 22). It marked the first time the Redhawks had at least four starters score double figures in consecutive games since the 2013-14 season (vs. Tulane, Nov. 30; vs. Texas State, Dec. 1).

Did You Say Six?
A total of six players scored double figures to key Southeast's latest 94-84 win over Harris-Stowe (Dec. 27). Antonius Cleveland paved the way with 20 points, while Eric McGill followed with 15, Joel Angus III added 12 and Trey Kellum, Isiah Jones and Jamaal Calvin each had 11. It was the first time Southeast had six players with double-digit points in a game since Mar. 1, 2014 (vs. Murray State).

Scoring Streaks
Isiah Jones, Antonius Cleveland and Joel Angus III are currently on double-digit scoring streaks. Jones has pitched in 10 or more points in five-straight games, while Cleveland and Angus have done it four and three-straight times, respectively. Cleveland and Angus have scored in every game this season. Cleveland (14.3 ppg), Angus (9.8 ppg) and Jones (9.8 ppg) are Southeast's top scorers through 12 contests.

Highest Point Total
Southeast accumulated its highest point total of the season when it beat Harris-Stowe, 94-84, on Dec. 27. The Redhawks last scored over 90 points when they finished with 92 against Murray State on Feb. 14, 2015. Southeast, which ranks 12th in the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring with just 65 points per game, averaged 86 points over its last two contests.

Hip, Hip, Hoo-Ray
After opening the 2015-16 campaign winless in its first 10 games, Southeast has since given head coach Rick Ray his first victory of the season and first home victory in a span of five days. The Redhawks led for all but 1:52 en route to a 78-74 win at Missouri State (Dec. 22). Southeast then erased a 16-point deficit in a 94-84 win vs. Harris-Stowe (Dec. 27). A victory Thursday would give Ray his 40th win as an NCAA Division I head coach.

Shooting Improves
Southeast, which shot no better than 42.4 percent from the field in each of its first nine games this season, has made big strides in that area over its last three contests. The Redhawks shot 48.3 percent at both Northern Kentucky (Dec. 19) and Missouri State (Dec. 22) before turning around to post a season-best 52.2 percent clip against Harris-Stowe (Dec. 27). Southeast made 35-of-67 shots and went 19-of-33 (57.6 percent) from the floor in the second half alone vs. the Hornets. The Redhawks last shot over 52 percent from the field vs. UT Martin on Feb. 12, 2015 (.585).

Calvin Produces
After missing eight games this season, including four with a hamstring injury, Jamaal Calvin has come off the bench to give Southeast a big boost recently. After making two huge free throws to give the Redhawks a four-point lead with 30 seconds left before Southeast closed out its 78-74 win at Missouri State (Dec. 22), Calvin scored a season-best 11 points in 19 minutes vs. Harris-Stowe (Dec. 27). He buried three 3-pointers against the Hornets as his four field goals, 11 points and three treys surpassed the totals in those categories over his previous three games combined.

Jones For Three
Isiah Jones has seen his scoring average rise from 5.9 to 9.8 points per game over the last five contests. Jones buried multiple 3-pointers in each of his starts during that stretch, shooting 40.5 percent (15-of-37) from long range. He matched a career-high five 3s at Missouri State (Dec. 22). Jones is tied for 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference in 3-point field goals made (22, 1.8 avg.) this season. He has 87 in his two-year Southeast career. Additionally, Jones has knocked down a 3-pointer in seven of his last nine contests.

Midweek Matchup
Thursday's New Year's Eve matinee between Southeast and Belmont features the Ohio Valley Conference's top 3-point field goal percentage defense going up against the league's top team in 3-point field goals made. The Redhawks limited opponents to just 30.3 percent (82-of-271) from beyond the arc through 12 games this season. Meanwhile, the Bruins are making close to 10 (9.6) 3-pointers per game and have a league-best 134 on the year. Loyola Marymount and Bowling Green hit the most 3-pointers against Southeast with 10 apiece. Belmont ranks 28th in the nation in 3-point field goals made and fifth in 3-pointers attempted (389). The Bruins shoot 27.7 threes per game.

Jones Doubles Up
Isiah Jones scored double figures for the fifth-straight game and sixth time this season when he dropped in 11 vs. Harris-Stowe (Dec. 27). Jones had seven assists and four steals in 26 minutes against the Hornets. He is one of three different players to score over 20 points in a game for the Redhawks this year.
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Stealin' the Show
Freshman guard Eric McGill collected three or more steals in three-consecutive starts. McGill, who leads Southeast and ranks third in the Ohio Valley Conference with 1.8 per game, had a season-high four at Northern Kentucky (Dec. 19) and vs. Harris-Stowe (Dec. 27). McGill posted a steal in nine of 11 games this season, as the Redhawks are second in the Ohio Valley Conference in steals behind Morehead State. As a team, Southeast is averaging 8.4 per game.

Time for Conference
Southeast's 16-game Ohio Valley Conference slate includes home matchups with Belmont, Tennessee State (Jan. 2), Jacksonville State (Jan. 13), UT Martin (Jan. 23), Austin Peay (Jan. 30), Murray State (Feb. 4), SIU Edwardsville (Feb. 18) and Eastern Illinois (Feb. 20), and road games at Morehead State (Jan. 7), Eastern Kentucky (Jan. 9), Tennessee Tech (Jan. 16), SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 28), Eastern Illinois (Feb. 6), UT Martin (Feb. 11), Murray State (Feb. 13) and Austin Peay (Feb. 27).

Redhawks Lead OVC in 3-Point FG Percentage Defense
The Redhawks lead the Ohio Valley Conference in 3-point field goal percentage defense. Opponents are shooting just 30.3 percent (82-of-271) from downtown against Southeast this year. Southeast is also second in the OVC in steals with 101 (8.4 spg). Nationally, the Redhawks rank 50th in 3-point field goal percentage defense and 31st in steals per game.

Cleveland's Career
Antonius Cleveland has 785 points, 308 rebounds, 134 assists, 86 steals, 37 blocks and boasts a 10.6 points per game average in 74 games and 62 starts during his career. Cleveland also has 41 double-digit scoring games, four double figure rebound performances, four 20+ point games and three double-doubles in his college career.

About Belmont
Belmont, the defending Ohio Valley Conference Tournament champion, was picked as the overall favorite to win the league this season. The Bruins, who have won the East Division each of their three years in the OVC, are presently 8-6 overall under the direction of head coach Rick Byrd. Evan Bradds and Craig Bradshaw are Belmont's top scoring threats with 17.6 and 16.1 points per game, respectively.  Bradds is fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring and Bradshaw is tied for seventh. Bradshaw was tabbed the league's Preseason Player of the Year. Bradds leads the OVC and ranks third in the nation in field goal percentage, shooting 70.3 percent (97-of-138). Austin Luke also leads the league with 90 assists (6.4 apg). As a team, Belmont is second in the OVC in scoring offense (81.5 ppg), free throw percentage (.719), field goal percentage (.489), field goal percentage defense (.432) and assist/turnover ratio (1.2), and first in assists (234, 16.7 apg) and defensive rebounds (27.3 rpg).