Southeast Missouri (5-5) at The Citadel (7-2)

Date: Saturday, December 15, 2018
Tip-Off: Noon, CT
Location: Charleston, S.C.
Arena: McAlister Field House (6,000)
Series History: First Meeting
Head Coaches: Rick Ray (76-124 overall; 39-64 at SEMO; 19-31 OVC). Duggar Baucom (228-244 overall; 40-66 at The Citadel).

Media Coverage
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM and ESPN 1220 AM (Erik Sean)
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: CitadelSports.com
Twitter: @SEMOMBB
Southeast Missouri Notes

Road Trip
Southeast Missouri (5-5) opens a two-game road trip at The Citadel (7-2) Saturday. Tip-off is set for Noon, CT, at McAlister Field House.

Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen to Saturday's game live on the radio at Real Rock 99.3 FM and ESPN 1220 AM. Erik Sean will call the action. Watch live on ESPN+. Live stats can be accessed at CitadelSports.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.

Series History
This year marks the first meeting between Southeast Missouri and The Citadel. The Citadel is The Military College of South Carolina located in Charleston. It is one of six United States senior military colleges. Norwich University (Northfield, Vermont), Texas A&M (College Station, Texas), Virginia Military Institute (Lexington, Va.), Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, Va.) and North Georgia (Dahlonega, Ga.) are the others.

Against the SoCon
The Citadel is a member of the Southern Conference which is made up of 10 schools. It is the fifth different SoCon school Southeast Missouri faces in its basketball history. The Redhawks are 7-6 all-time against SoCon institutions. That mark includes a 1-0 record vs. East Tennessee State, 3-6 mark against Samford, 2-0 record vs. Chattanooga and a 1-0 mark vs. Western Carolina.

Tough Stretch Ahead
The final three non-conference opponents on Southeast Missouri's schedule -- The Citadel (7-2), Florida State (8-1), Abilene Christian (9-1) -- are a combined 24-4 this season. Florida State, which the Redhawks face Monday in Tallahassee, is ranked 10th in this week's Associated Press Top-25 Poll.

Final Exams
The Redhawks return to action following a busy week of final exams. Southeast Missouri last played at home against longstanding rival Southern Illinois on Dec. 8. SEMO will hold its Fall Commencement exercises Saturday when the Redhawks are at The Citadel. Forward Milos Vranes (2016-18) will receive his degree this weekend.

Road Warriors
Southeast Missouri is on the road for eight of its 13 non-conference games. So far, the Redhawks are an even 3-3 outside of Cape Girardeau. SEMO picked up its first true road win of the seasin with a 77-57 victory over Southwestern Athletic Conference foe Mississippi Valley State (Dec. 4). 

OVC Update
Southeast Missouri's five non-conference wins are presently tied for third-most in the Ohio Valley Conference this season. The Redhawks (5-5), Murray State (5-1), Jacksonville State (5-3), Austin Peay (5-4) and Eastern Illinois (5-5) all have five victories thus far. Belmont (7-1) and Eastern Kentucky (6-4) are ahead of that group in victories.

Hogan Does it Again
Junior guard Skyler Hogan picked up his second Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week award on Dec. 10. A transfer from Embry-Riddle, Hogan averaged 19.5 points, three rebounds, 2.5 assists and one block a game while hitting 53.6 percent (15-of-28) from the field and 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from 3-point range in two games last week. He scored a season-best 25 points in the team's 77-57 win at Mississippi Valley State (Dec. 4). In that game, Hogan made 10-of-16 field goals (5-of-8 three-pointers), dished out four assists, blocked two shots, grabbed two rebounds and had a steal in 35 minutes of action. Despite a stomach illness that forced him to come off the bench and play limited minutes against Southern Illinois (Dec. 8), Hogan still managed 14 points, four rebounds and an assist in 25 minutes versus the Salukis He currently ranks sixth in the OVC in 3-point percentage (45.5 pct.) and seventh in 3-pointers made (2 per game). Eastern Kentucky forward Nick Mayo (Player of the Week) and Belmont center Nick Muszynski (Freshman of the Week) rounded out the week's honorees. 

Hogan to the Top
Skyler Hogan enters the weekend as Southeast Missouri's top scorer after a strong performance last week. Hogan, who averages, 12.8 points per game, has scored double figures in seven of his last eight contests. He leads the Redhawks in total points (128), scoring average, free throw percentage (.909) and 3-pointers made (20). 

Russell Logs First Start
Freshman guard Nygal Russell logged his first career start against Southern Illinois (Dec. 8). Russell started in place of Skyler Hogan who came off the bench due to a stomach illness. Russell scored two points and had two rebounds in 17 minutes. He is the fourth different Redhawk to get his first career Division I start this year. 

Brewer Regroups
After scoring a combined eight points in his previous two starts, Ledarrius Brewer bounced back to lead Southeast Missouri with 17 points against Southern Illinois (Dec. 8). Brewer shot 6-of-15 from the field, knocked down two 3-pointers and made 3-of-4 free throws. He also grabbed three rebounds and had two steals in 31 minutes. Brewer has scored in double figures during eight of his 10 starts this season and ranks second on the team in scoring with 12.7 points per contest. 

Defending the Three
Southeast Missouri enters the weekend ranked 22nd in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage defense. Opponents are shooting 27.7 percent against the Redhawks from behind the arc. The Redhawks rank second in the Ohio Valley Conference behind Murray State (20.4 percent) in that category.

Nice Defense
Southeast Missouri ranks second in the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring defense allowing 68 points per game in 10 contests. Chattanooga's 42 points were the fewest allowed by SEMO this season. Murray State leads the league in that category with 57.2 points per game allowed. The Redhawks are also second in field goal percentage defense (.407). 

About The Citadel
The Citadel carries a five-game winning streak into Saturday's matchup with Southeast Missouri. At 7-2 overall, the Bulldogs lead the nation in scoring offense (103 ppg), 3-point field goals per game (15.2) and total 3-point field goals made (137). The Citadel has scored over 100 points four times this year. Matt Frierson ranks second in the country with 46 three-pointers made. Frierson has attempted 98 threes in nine games (10.8 per game). Frierson (16.7 ppg) is one of five Bulldogs averaging double figures this season. Lew Stallworth (17.4 ppg), Zane Najdawi (13.1 ppg), Kaiden Rice (12.3 ppg) and Connor Kern (10.7 ppg) are the others. As a team, The Citadel is shooting 50.5 percent (326-of-646) from the field and 40.3 percent (137-of-340) from beyond the arc.

Starting Streak
Ledarrius Brewer has started 36-consecutive games dating back to last season. Brewer has scored in 30-straight starts. He also pitched in double figures in 26 of his last 31 contests. Meanwhile, Jonathan Dalton started 37-consecutive games at point guard.

On the Way to 100
Ledarrius Brewer is making his way closer to the 100 mark in career free throws and 3-pointers made. Brewer has drained 87 three-pointers and 89 free throws through 41 games and 37 starts as a Redhawk.

Free Throw Margin
Southeast Missouri has been outscored at the free throw line in eight of its first 10 games this season. In the last four games alone, opponents held a 64-26 advantage at the free throw line. SEMO is attempting 14.1 free throws per game, fewest in the Ohio Valley Conference of the teams that have played 10 games. 

Where They Rank
Ledarrius Brewer ranks among Ohio Valley Conference leaders in scoring (21st, 12.1 ppg), rebounding (15th, 6.0 ppg), defensive rebounds (10th, 5.4 rpg) and minutes played (27th, 27.9 mpg). Sage Tolbert is 13th in the conference in rebounding (6.5 rpg) and ninth in offensive rebounds (2.7 rpg). Alex Caldwell ranks eighth in 3-point field goal percentage (.429) and Jonathan Dalton is tied for sixth in assists (3.5 apg) and fifth in assist/turnover ratio (1.8). Skyler Hogan ranks 15th in scoring (12.8 ppg), sixth in 3-point field goal percentage (.455) and tied for seventh in 3-point field goals made (2.0 per game).