Southeast Missouri (4-17, 0-8 OVC) at Morehead State (9-12, 3-5 OVC)
Date: Thursday, January 30, 2020
Tip-Off: 6 p.m., CT
Location: Morehead, Ky.
Arena: Ellis T. Johnson Arena (6,500)
Series History: MSU leads, 30-19
Last Meeting: MSU 73, SEMO 69 (Jan. 17, 2019 | Morehead, Ky.)
Head Coaches: Rick Ray (84-157 overall; 47-97 at SEMO; 24-52 OVC). Preston Spradlin (42-62 overall; 42-62 at MSU; 25-35 OVC).
Media Coverage
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: GoSoutheast.com
Twitter: @SEMOMBB
Southeast Missouri Notes (PDF)
Back on the Road
Southeast Missouri (4-17, 0-8) continues its four-game road trip when it heads to Morehead State (9-12, 3-5) Thursday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m., CT, at Ellis T. Johnson Arena.
Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen to Thursday'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 MSUEagles.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.
Series History
Thursday marks the 50th meeting between Southeast Missouri and Morehead State. MSU holds a 30-19 lead in the all-time series. SEMO has won two of the last three matchups, including a 78-62 victory in Morehead, Kentucky on Feb. 8, 2018. The Eagles, however, went 7-3 in the previous 10 games between these teams.
Another Close One
Southeast Missouri came up short in a 61-59 loss in the final seconds at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 25). Alex Caldwell's game-winning 3-point attempt came off the rim at the buzzer as the Panthers escaped. It was the fourth time this season where SEMO had a game decided by two or less points. The Redhawks are 2-2 in such games.
January Ends
The Redhawks complete their third month of the season at Morehead State Thursday. Southeast Missouri is 0-8 in January with all of those losses coming in Ohio Valley Conference play.
Caldwell Hits 200
Alex Caldwell reached 200 points this season when he scored nine against Murray State (Jan. 18). Caldwell leads Southeast Missouri with 14 double-digit scoring games this season. He is SEMO's leading scorer with 11.2 points a game.
Looking for First Road Win
Southeast Missouri is 0-11 in true road games this season and has dropped 13-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.
A Look Ahead
After Southeast Missouri finishes its four-game road stretch this week, the Redhawks wrap up their season with five of their final eight games at home. SEMO hosts Jacksonville State (Feb. 6), Tennessee Tech (Feb. 8), UT Martin (Feb. 13) and SIU Edwardsville (Feb. 15) during a four-game home stand after this week's visit to Kentucky.
Big Second Half
Alex Caldwell scored a career-high 20 points to lead Southeast Missouri at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 25). Caldwell scored 16 of those points in the second half. He shot 7-of-17 from the field and 5-of-6 at the free throw line. Caldwell became the second SEMO player to score 20 points in a game this season.
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 188-290 all-time in OVC play. SEMO last had a winning OVC record in 2016-17 (9-7).
Coming on Strong
Nygal Russell has played well off the bench in Southeast Missouri's last four games. Russell averaged 9.3 points per game in that span and dropped in a career-best 13 points vs. Murray State (Jan. 18).
Looking for First OVC Win
Southeast Missouri is searching for its first Ohio Valley Conference win. The Redhawks have lost 13 of their last 14 games. SEMO's last conference victory was 89-74 at home against Tennessee State (Feb. 28, 2019). The Redhawks are currently on an eight-game losing streak, their longest of the season.
All Twenty-One
Guard Skyler Hogan and forward Sage Tolbert are the only two players who have started all 21 games for Southeast Missouri this year. Hogan has made 26-straight starts and Tolbert logged 29-consecutive starts dating back to last season.
About Morehead State
Morehead State is currently eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference standings with an overall record of 9-12 and 3-5 in league play. MSU enters the week on a four-game losing streak. The Eagles, however, are 8-2 at home this year as those wins rank as the third-most home victories in the OVC. MSU is the worst free throw shooting team in the league with a 63.5 percent (233-of-367) clip. Senior Jordan Walker is MSU's top scorer with 13.4 points a game. Walker also ranks 10th in the OVC in scoring.
