Southeast Missouri (4-16, 0-7 OVC) at Eastern Illinois (10-9, 3-4 OVC)
Date: Saturday, January 25, 2020
Tip-Off: 3:15 p.m., CT
Location: Charleston, Ill.
Arena: Lantz Arena (5,300)
Series History: EIU leads, 30-24
Last Meeting: SEMO 88, EIU 79 (Feb. 16, 2019 / Charleston, Ill.)
Head Coaches: Rick Ray (84-156 overall; 47-96 at SEMO; 24-51 OVC). Jay Spoonhour (209-165 overall; 103-128 at EIU; 54-69 OVC).
Media Coverage
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: EIUPanthers.com
Twitter: @SEMOMBB
Southeast Missouri Notes (PDF)
Redhawks Conclude Illinois Swing
Southeast Missouri (4-16, 0-7) closes out its two-game Illinois road swing with a trip to Eastern Illinois (10-9, 3-4) Saturday. Tip-off is set for 3:15 p.m., CT, at Lantz Arena.
Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen to Saturday's game live on the radio at Real Rock 99.3 FM. Erik Sean will call the action. Video is available at ESPN+. Live stats can be accessed at EIUPanthers.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.
Series History
Southeast meets Eastern Illinois for the 55th time this weekend. EIU holds a 30-24 lead in the all-time series. The Redhawks have won each of the last four matchups and were victorious in Charleston during their last two trips there. SEMO is 6-4 in its previous 10 games against the Panthers.
OVC Member
Southeast Missouri is in its 29th season as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. SEMO first joined the league when it moved to NCAA Division I in 1991-92. The Redhawks are 188-289 all-time in OVC play. SEMO last had a winning OVC record in 2016-17 (9-7).
Road Trip Continues
The Redhawks continue their four-game road stretch when they visit Eastern Illinois Saturday. The four-game sretch is Southeast Missouri's longest in Ohio Valley Conference play this year. SEMO also travels to Morehead State (Jan. 30) and Eastern Kentucky (Feb. 1) during that span.
Looking for First Road Win
Southeast Missouri is 0-10 in true road games this season and has dropped 12-straight road contests dating back to last year. The Redhawks last road win was an 88-79 victory at Eastern Illinois on Feb. 16, 2019.
Redhawks Stumble at SIUE
Another slow start doomed Southeast Missour in its latest 84-65 loss at SIU Edwardsville Thursday. SEMO scored a season-low 18 first-half points and trailed, 38-18, at halftime. The Redhawks did manage to win the second half, but SIUE didn't cool off shooting 56 percent in the final 20 minutes.
Coming on Strong
Nygal Russell has played well off the bench in Southeast Missouri's last three games. Russell averaged 11.3 points per game in that span and dropped in a career-best 13 points vs. Murray State (Jan. 18). He most recently scored nine points in 18 minutes at SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 23).
Kudos to the Freshman
Freshman guard DQ Nicholas scored double figures in four-straight games. Nicholas is averaging just under double-digits with 9.9 points per contest His four-game double-digit scoring streak is presently the longest of his young career. Nicholas also ranks second on the team in free throw percentage (.797).
Let's End This
The Redhawks are on a 12-game losing streak against NCAA Division I opponents. Southeast Missouri's last win against a D-I school was vs. Denver (66-51) in the Cable Car Classic (Santa Clara, Calif.) on Nov. 30.
Looking for First OVC Win
Southeast Missouri is searching for its first Ohio Valley Conference win. The Redhawks have lost 12 of their last 13 games. SEMO's last conference victory was 89-74 at home against Tennessee State (Feb. 28, 2019). The Redhawks are currently on a seven-game losing streak, their longest of the season.
All Twenty
Guard Skyler Hogan and forward Sage Tolbert are the only two players who have started all 20 games for Southeast Missouri this year. Hogan has made 25-straight starts and Tolbert logged 28-consecutive starts dating back to last season.
About Eastern Illinois
Eastern Illinois enters Saturday's game on a three-game winning streak and beat UT Martin, 95-83, in its last matchup Thursday. EIU ranks second in the Ohio Valley Conference in blocks averaging 4.3 per contest. The Panthers are also second in the conference in steals (7.7 spg). Josiah Wallace is EIU's top scoring threat with 13 points per game. Wallace ranks 11th in the OVC in scoring. Mack Smith (13th, 12.9 ppg) and George Dixon (15th, 12.8 ppg) are also among the top-15 scorers in the conference.
