Southeast Missouri (1-2) vs. Cal State Northridge (1-2)

Dates: Tuesday-Wednesday, November 21-22, 2017
Schedule 
Nov. 21  vs. Cal State Northridge, 2 p.m., CT
Nov. 22  vs. Binghamton/Montana State, 11:30 a.m./2 p.m., CT
Location:Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
Resort: Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
Series Histories    First Meeting vs. Cal State Northridge    
First Meeting vs. Binghamton & Montana State
Head Coaches
Rick Ray (58-104 overall; 21-44 at SEMO; 11-21 OVC)
Reggie Theus (80-106 overall: 80-106 at CSUN)
Tommy Dempsey (245-239 overall; 38-122 at Binghamton)
Brian Fish (40-59 overall; 40-59 at Montana State)

Media Coverage
Radio: SEMO ESPN 92.9 FM, Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
Video: CBS Sports Digital (Subscription Required)
Live Stats: CancunChallenge.net
Twitter: @SEMOMBB
Tournament Website: CancunChallenge.net
Southeast Missouri Notes

Mexico Bound 

Southeast Missouri (1-2) wraps up the Cancun Challenge with two games in Mexico this week. The Redhawks face Cal State Northridge (1-2) Tuesday at 2 p.m., CT, and either Binghamton (1-3)/Montana State (2-2) Wednesday. Both games will be played at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.

Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen to both games in Mexico on the radio at ESPN 92.9 FM and Real Rock 99.3 FM. Erik Sean will call the action. Video can be accessed online at CBS Sports Digital (Subscription Required). Live stats are available at CancunChallenge.net. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.

Cancun Challenge
Southeast Missouri, Cal State Northridge, Binghamton and Montana State are in the Mayan Division of this year's Cancun Challenge. Louisiana Tech, George Mason, Evansville and Fresno State complete the tournament field as part of the Riviera Division. The Redhawks are currently 0-2 in the Cancun Challenge after dropping a 96-95 overtime loss at Louisiana Tech (Nov. 13) and a 66-50 loss at Evansville (Nov. 16).

First Meeting
The Redhawks meet Cal State Northridge for the first time this season. Cal State Northridge is a member of the Big West Conference. The Matadors are the third team from the Big West Conference that Southeast faces. The Redhawks are 3-1 all-time against such teams going 2-1 vs. UC Riverside and 1-0 vs. UC Santa Barbara. Southeast won its last meeting with a Big West Conference foe when it defeated, UC Riverside, 78-75, on Nov. 24, 2006.

Rest of the Mayan Division
Binghamton and Montana State are the other teams in the Mayan Division along with  Southeast and Cal State Northridge. The Redhawks have never faced Binghamton or Montana State as well. Binghamton (1-2) is out of the America East Conference and Montana State (1-1) is a member of the Big Sky Conference.

Cancun Challenge Record
Southeast is currently 0-2 in the Cancun Challenge after opening tournament play with a 96-95 overtime loss at Louisiana Tech (Nov. 13) and a 66-50 setback at Evansville (Nov. 16).  Denzel Mahoney led the Redhawks with 25 points agaisnt Lousiana Tech and Milos Vranes paved the way with a double-double 16 points and 10 rebounds against Evansville.

Mexico Tournaments
The Redhawks play tournament games in Mexico for the second time in their NCAA Division I era. Southeast last played in the Cure UCD Classic in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 2013. The Redhawks won that tournament with a 3-0 record beating Northern Kentucky (79-65), Theast shot a red-hot 68 percent in the second half and saw all five of its starters score double figures in its championship game win over Texas State. Southeast became the first Missouri school to win the event. Jarekious Bradley was named the tourney's Most Valuable Player for the Redhawks. The Redhawks are 3-2 all-time in Mexico Tournament contests.

Tournament Play
Southeast is 0-6 in tournament play under head coach Rick Ray. The Redhawks went 0-4 in the Las Vegas Classic (Dec. 17-23) last season and opened the Cancun Classic with a 0-2 mark this year. 

Logging the Miles

Southeast is in the middle of two long trips is 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 Evansville, Ind., 642 miles
Charter Bus to Cape Girardeau, 139.6 miles
Total Mileage    5,891.2

Vranes Notches Double-Double
Milos Vranes recorded his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench against Evansville (Nov. 16). Vranes shot 6-of-11 from the field and knocked down three 3-pointers. His 16 points and 10 rebounds each marked new career-highs.

Free Throw Comparison
The Redhawks were outscored by a combined 50-18 at the free throw line their last two games. Louisiana Tech shot 28-of-34 free throws compared to Southeast's 14-of-19 on Nov. 13. Three days later, Evansville shot 22-of-27 free throws to the Redhawks 4-of-8. The Redhawks are fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference in free throw percentage with a 77.1 percent clip.

Good Run
Denzel Mahoney saw his streak of 13-consecutive double-digit scoring games come to an end at Evansville (Nov. 16). Mahoney scored only three points on 1-of-7 field goals and 1-of-4 three-pointers in 26 minutes. It was just the seventh time in his career where he was held under double figures in the scoring column. The three points were the second-lowest in a game for Mahoney, as well.

OVC Rankings
The Redhawks rank among the top five in the Ohio Valley Conference in free throw percentage (4th, .771), rebounding defense (2nd, 31.7 rpg), assists (t5th, 15.3), assist/turnover ratio (5th, 1.2) and defensive rebound percentage (2nd, .763). Individually, Denzel Mahoney rates tied for eighth in scoring (16.3 ppg), Justin Carpenter is tied for third in field goal percentage (.667), Jonathan Dalton is second in assists (6.3 apg), ninth in steals (1.7 spg) and fourth in assist/turnover ratio (2.7) Ledarrius Brewer is tied for fourth in 3-point field goals made (3.0 per game) and tied for eighth in blocked shots (1.0 per game), and Mark Laros is tied for eighth in blocks (1.0).

A Look at the Field
Montana State is 2-2 this season, while Cal State Northridge (1-2), Binghamton (1-3) and Southeast (1-2) head to Cancun, Mexico with one win apiece. CSUN has four starters averaging double figures led by Tavrion Dawson who is scoring 17 points per contest. The Matadors are averaging eight 3-pointers a game, as well. Binghamton has dropped three games in a row after opening the season with a 76-59 win over Morgan State. J.C. Show leads the Bearcats with 16.5 points per game. Meanwhile, Montana State is led by Tyler Hall and Harald Frey who average 22 and 19.3 points per game, respectively.