Southeast Missouri (1-0) at Louisiana Tech (1-0)

Date: Monday, November 13, 2017
Tip-off: 6:30 p.m., CT
Location: Ruston, La.
Arena: Thomas Assembly Center (8,000)
Series History: Louisiana Tech leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Louisiana Tech 67, SEMO 63 (Nov. 19, 2012 / Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Head Coaches: Rick Ray (58-102 overall; 21-42 at SEMO; 11-21 OVC). Eric Konkol (47-20 overall; 47-20 at Louisiana Tech).
 
Media Coverage
Radio: SEMO ESPN 92.9 FM, Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
Video: CUSA.TV (Subscription Required)
Live Stats: LaTechSports.com
Twitter: @SEMOMBB
Southeast Missouri Notes

Redhawks Open Cancun Challenge 
Southeast Missouri (1-0) opens play in the Cancun Challenge when it visits Conference USA member Louisiana Tech (1-0) Monday. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m., CT, at Thomas Assembly Center.

Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen to Monday's game on the radio at ESPN 92.9 FM and Real Rock 99.3 FM. Erik Sean will call the action. Live stats are available at LaTechSports.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.

Cancun Challenge
Monday marks the first of four games Southeast plays as part of this year's Cancun Challenge. After facing Louisiana Tech, the Redhawks head to Evansville Thursday. Southeast then returns to Cape Girardeau and departs for Cancun, Mexico on Sunday, Nov. 19. The Redhawks wrap up the event with games against Cal State Northridge (Nov. 21) and either Binghamton or Montana State (Nov. 22) at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. Fresno State and George Mason are also part of the tournament field.

Series History
Southeast is 1-3 all-time against Louisiana Tech. This year marks the sixth meeting between the two teams (SEMO had to vacate a win against La Tech in 2007-08 due to NCAA infractions). Monday is the third time the Redhawks play in Ruston. Southeast's lone win in the series came there on Dec. 9, 1996 (69-65). Southeast and Louisiana Tech last met at the CBE Classic in Chattanooga, Tennessee on Nov. 19, 2012. The Bulldogs won that game, 67-63. 

Logging the Miles
Southeast has two long road trips ahead and will be racking up the miles between ground and air transportation. Here is a look at the Redhawks travel itinerary:
Nov. 12 Charter Bus to St. Louis, Mo., 118 miles
Flight to Dallas, Texas, 551 miles 
Flight to Monroe, La., 292 miles
Charter Bus to Ruston, La., 33.2 miles
Nov. 14 Charter Bus to Monroe, La., 33.2 miles
Flight to Dallas, Texas, 292 miles
Flight to Evansville, Ind., 642 miles
Nov. 16 Charter Bus to Cape Girardeau, 139.6 miles
Nov. 19 Charter Bus to Evansville, Ind., 139.6 miles
Flight to Cancun, Mexico, 1,736 miles
Charter Bus to Riviera Maya, 51 miles
Nov.  23 Charter Bus to Cancun, Mexico, 51 miles
Flight to Dallas, Texas, 1,031 miles
Flight to St. Louis, Mo., 551 miles
Charter Bus to Cape Girardeau, 118 miles
Total Mileage    5,778.6

Short Turnaround
Following its lengthy four-game road trip to the Cancun Challenge, Southeast returns to Cape Girardeau to host two games in three days. The Redhawks welcome North Carolina Central on Nov. 26 (2 p.m.) and Hannibal-LaGrange on Nov. 28 (6:30 p.m.).

Season-Opening Win
The Redhawks opened the 2017-18 season with an 81-69 victory over NAIA member Missouri Baptist on Nov. 10. Southeast tipped off a season on its homecourt for the first time in 12 years. The Redhawks improved to 10-17 all-time in season-opening games since moving to the NCAA Division I ranks in 1991-92.

Season-Opener Skid is Over
Southeast ended an 11-game losing streak in season-opening games when it beat Missouri Baptist, 81-69, on Nov. 10. It was the Redhawks 26th consecutive win against non-Division I opponents. Southeast's last win in a season-opener was a 59-56 victory over Truman State on Nov. 18, 2005.

Against the Conference USA
The Redhawks are 17-19 all-time against Conference USA foes. Southeast has faced Louisiana Tech (1-3), Middle Tennessee (14-7), North Texas (1-1), Old Dominion (0-1), Southern Mississippi (1-2) and Western Kentucky (0-4) out of that league. The Redhawks last matchup with a Conference USA opponent was against Louisiana Tech on Nov. 19, 2012.

Let's Go For Two
Southeast goes for its second win this young season. The Redhawks have not opened a season at 2-0 since 2003-04. Southeast beat Wisconsin-Green Bay, 63-62, and Kentucky Christian, 83-51, en route to starting that year 3-1. The Redhawks have opened a season with back-to-back wins a total of six times during their NCAA Division I era.

Redhawk Debuts
A total of six players made their NCAA Division I debuts at Southeast against Missouri Baptist (Nov. 10). Mark Laros, Ray Kowalski, Isaiah Gable, Donnie Lewis, Justin Carpenter and Ledarrius Brewer all participated. Laros narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds in his first career start, while Brewer came off the bench to score 14 points in 26 minutes.

Double-Digit Scorers
Southeast put four players in double figures during its season-opening victory over Missouri Baptist (Nov. 10). Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference guard/forward Denzel Mahoney paved the way with 21 points and 11-of-11 free throws, Ledarrius Brewer followed with 14 points, Daniel Simmons added 13 and Jonathan Dalton chipped in 11.

Now Starting
Guard Daniel Simmons was in Southeast's starting lineup for the first time in his career against Missouri Baptist (Nov. 10). Simmons dropped in 13 points on 5-of-12 field goals, knocked down two 3-pointers, grabbed two rebounds, dished out two assists and had a steal in 28 minutes. Simmons scored double figures for the sixth time in his career. 

Free Throws the Difference
Southeast made 19-of-21 free throws to key its victory over Missouri Baptist (Nov. 10). Denzel Mahoney opened the season going a perfect 11-of-11 at the charity stripe. The Redhawks have made 19 or more free throws in three of their last four games dating back to last season. Southeast shot 82 percent (73-of-89) during that stretch.