Southeast Missouri (7-14, 2-6 OVC) at Belmont (15-4, 6-2 OVC)

Date: Thursday, January 31, 2019
Tip-Off: 7 p.m., CT
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Arena: Curb Event Center (5,000)
Series History: Belmont leads, 6-0
Last Meeting: BEL 94, SEMO 72 (Dec. 28, 2017 / Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Head Coaches: Rick Ray (78-133 overall; 41-73 at SEMO; 21-37 OVC). Rick Byrd (793-399 overall; 701-344 at Belmont; 87-19 OVC).

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

Redhawks Head to Music City
Southeast Missouri (7-14, 2-6) faces Ohio Valley Conference preseason-favorite Belmont (15-4, 6-2) Thursday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., CT, at the Curb Event Center. 

Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen to Thursday'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 BelmontBruins.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.

Halfway Through
Thursday marks the midway point of Southeast Missouri's Ohio Valley Conference slate. The Redhawks are currently in a three-way tie for ninth in the league standings. Murray State (7-1) and Jacksonville State (7-1) are tied for first, while Belmont (6-2) and Austin Peay (6-2) share the second-place spot.

Series History
Belmont is undefeated at 6-0 in its all-time series against Southeast Missouri. The Bruins are 3-0 in Nashville and 3-0 in Cape Girardeau. Belmont won, 94-72, during the last meeting between these teams on Dec. 28, 2017. This year marks the first time since Belmont joined the Ohio Valley Conference that the teams play each other twice.

Redhawks Come Back to Beat Eastern Illinois
Southeast Missouri ended a five-game losing streak when it overcame a 14-point deficit to beat Eastern Illinois, 64-59, on Jan. 26. SEMO rallied to beat the Panthers just 48 hours after dropping an 87-86 triple overtime game against SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 24). The Redhawks erased double-digit deficits en route to winning both of their Ohio Valley Conference games this year.

Brewer Takes Over
For the second time in his career, guard Ledarrius Brewer scored over 20 points in back-to-back games when he netted 24 against both SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 24) and Eastern Illinois (Jan. 26). A native of Meridian, Mississippi, Brewer shot 43.8 percent (14-of-32) from the field and 72.7 percent (16-of-22) at the free throw line. He also grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out seven assists, gathered two blocks and collected two steals for the week. Brewer gave SEMO its first lead against EIU when he buried a 3-pointer with 12:58 left to play. After he drained another 3-pointer to tie the game at 59-59 with just under two minutes left, Brewer drove the baseline and threw down a huge dunk that gave the Redhawks the spark they needed to get by the Panthers. 

McGlothan Rises in Starting Role
Freshman Gabe McGlothan averaged a double-double 13.5 points and 14 rebounds in his first two career starts last week. McGlothan shot 52.4 percent (11-of-21) from the field and pulled down 28 rebounds, while dishing out three assists for the week. He scored a season-high 18 points to go along with 16 rebounds in his first career start vs. SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 24). Two days later, McGlothan just missed a double-double when he scored nine points and tallied 12 boards.

Clamping Down
The Redhawks got seven-straight stops on the defensive end to seal their recent 64-59 win over Eastern Illinois (Jan. 26). Southeast Missouri also forced three turnovers in the final minute of the contest.

Close Games
Southeast Missouri's last four games have been decided by a combined 12 points. The Redhawks dropped a 73-69 decision at Morehead State (Jan. 17) and came up short at Eastern Kentucky (Jan. 19) in an 85-83 setback on a buzzer-beater. SEMO went three overtimes with SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 24) before falling, 87-86. Most recently, the Redhawks came from behind to edge Eastern Illinois, 64-59, on Jan. 26. SEMO has been involved in seven games decided by five or less points this season and stands at 3-4 in those contests. Two of those wins were in Ohio Valley Conference play.

Freshmen Deliver
True freshmen forwards Gabe McGlothan and Sage Tolbert put up new season-highs in the scoring column vs. SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 24). McGlothan, who made his first career start against the Cougars, turned in a double-double 18 points and 16 rebounds. Meanwhile, Tolbert came off the bench for the first time this season and added 18 points and eight boards. Tolbert and McGlothan are Southeast Missouri's top two rebounders with 6.1 and 5.5 rebounds a game, respectively.

Over 80
The Redhawks scored more than 80 points for the fourth time this season when they put up 86 vs. SIU Edwardsville. The 86 points against the Cougars are Southeast Missouri's third-most in a game this year. SEMO scored a season-high 102 points vs. Quincy (Nov. 12), 88 points vs. SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 3) and 83 points at Eastern Kentucky (Jan. 19) during its other 80-plus point performances. The Redhawks last scored over 80 points in back-to-back games on Feb. 10 (81 at UT Martin) and Feb. 15 (80 vs. Eastern Illinois) last season.

Climb to 100
Jonathan Dalton is 13 assists away from reaching 100 in his career. Dalton has 77 career assists and averages 3.7 per game this season. If hits the mark, it will be the second year in a row where Dalton has dished out 100 assists.

Nifty Fifty
Southeast Missouri's game against Eastern Illinois (Jan. 26) marked the 50th career game for Ledarrius Brewer and 50th career start for point guard Jonathan Dalton. Brewer matched a season-high 24 points against the Panthers, while Dalton added six points and three assists.

Halftime Lead
Southeast Missouri led at the half for the seventh time this season and first since Dec. 21 when it headed into the locker room with a 36-34 advantage vs. SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 24). SEMO is 5-2 in games where it leads at halftime this year. It is also the Redhawks only halftime lead in eight Ohio Valley Conference contests.

Caldwell Misses Third Game
Freshman guard Alex Caldwell missed his third game of the season when he was sidelined due to illness vs. Eastern Illinois (Jan. 26). Caldwell is expected to return for Thursday's matchup with Belmont. 

All 21 Starts
Sophomore Isaiah Gable is the only Redhawk who has started every game this season. Gable is fourth on the team in scoring with 8.4 points per game and is the team's top scorer in Ohio Valley Conference games (13.1 ppg).

Under 70
The Redhawks have scored under 70 points a total of 11 times this season. Southeast Missouri was under that mark in four of its last six games. The Redhawks are 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference with 71.8 points a game through 21 contests this year.

Draining 3s
The Redhawks matched a season-high 14 three-pointers at Florida State (Dec. 17). Southeast Missouri shot 14-of-37 behind the arc with seven treys in each half. SEMO made 11 or more 3-pointers in eight contests. The Redhawks are averaging 8.8 three-point field goals made per game.

More from the Arc
Southeast Missouri ranks second in the Ohio Valley Conference in 3-pointers made through 21 games this season. The Redhawks drained 184 three-pointers in 519 attempts. 

Defending the Three
The Redhawks rank second in the Ohio Valley Conference and 27th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage defense. Opponents are shooting 29.8 percent from beyond the arc against Southeast Missouri this year. Murray State leads the OVC with a .272 three-point field goal percentage defense.

About Belmont
Belmont is tied for second in the Ohio Valley Conference and enters Thursday's matchup after winning six of its last seven games. The only loss during that stretch was in overtime (91-80) at Jacksonville State (Jan. 17). Belmont is 51-3 at the Curb Event Center since it joined the league. Preseason OVC Player of the Year Dylan Windler leads all scorers and ranks third in the conference with 18.9 points per game. Three others, including Kevin McClain (15.2 ppg), Nick Muszynski (15.2 ppg) and Grayson Murphy (10.8 ppg) are also averaging double figures in the scoring column. Belmont leads the OVC with 86.4 points and 19.5 assists per contest.

Against the Ohio Valley
Southeast Missouri is 21-37 in Ohio Valley Conference play under head coach Rick Ray. The Redhawks best OVC record with Ray at the helm was 9-7 in 2016-17. That year was also the last time SEMO made the OVC Tournament.