Southeast Missouri (3-8, 1-4 OVC) at Tennessee State (2-8, 1-6 OVC)

Game Information
Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Tip-Off: 6 p.m., CT
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Arena: Gentry Center (9,100)
Series: TSU leads, 28-23
Last Meeting: SEMO 83, TSU 79 (2 OT) (Jan. 2, 2021 | Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (3-8 overall, 3-8 at SEMO; 1-4 OVC). Brian "Penny" Collins (29-43 overall; 29-43 at TSU).

Follow the Redhawks
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: TSUTigers.com
Twitter: @SEMOMBB
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri (PDF)

Redhawks Hit the Road 
Southeast Missouri (3-8, 1-4) completes its two-game series with Tennessee State (2-8, 1-6) Tuesday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m., CT at the Gentry Center.

Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen live on the radio at Real Rock 99.3 FM with Erik Sean calling the action. Video can be accessed online at ESPN+. Live stats are available at TSUTigers.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.

Redhawks Resume Play
Southeast Missouri's Department of Athletics paused men's basketball activities due to COVID-19 protocols on Jan. 8. As a result, SEMO did not play its originally scheduled Ohio Valley Conference games at Tennessee State (Jan. 9) and UT Martin (Jan. 11). The Redhawks will make up those games during their upcoming road trip with visits to TSU on Jan. 19 and UTM on Jan. 26. 

Lengthy Road Stretch Ahead
Sandwiched between the Redhawks games at Tennessee State (Jan. 19) and UT Martin (Jan. 26) are road matchups with Morehead State (Jan. 21) and Eastern Kentucky (Jan. 23). Southeast Missouri will be on the road for a week-straight from Jan. 19-26.

Series History
Tennessee State leads its all-time series against Southeast Missouri by a count of 28-23. The Redhawks are in position to sweep TSU this season after edging the Tigers in an 83-79 double overtime thriller at the Show Me Center on Jan. 2. SEMO last swept TSU in a two-game season series in 1998-99. The Redhawks beat the Tigers, 70-49, in Cape Girardeau and, 61-54, in Nashville that year.

Last Time vs. Tennessee State
DQ Nicholas scored a season-high 21 points and made a career-best 17 free throws to lead Southeast Missouri to its first Ohio Valley Conference win with an 83-79 double overtime victory over Tennessee State on Jan. 2. SEMO tied a school record with 40 free throws in 51 attempts and used every one of them to beat the Tigers. The Redhawks overcame a nine-point deficit with 2:03 left to play in regulation. Nicholas made two big free throws to send the game to overtime. Nana Akenten's two free throws in the second overtime period sealed the win.

About Tennessee State
Tennessee State is last in the Ohio Valley Conference standings at 2-8 overall and 1-6 in league play. TSU and Tennessee Tech currently have the most conference losses this season. The Tigers have lost five of their last six contests. Their only OVC win came at home against UT Martin (74-62) on Jan. 7. 

Game at Morehead State to Air on ESPNU
The Southeast Missouri at Morehead State game set for Jan. 21 will be televised live on ESPNU as part of the Ohio Valley Conference's 2020-21 ESPN basketball linear television schedule. SEMO and Morehead State mark the fourth game selected in the league's linear television package. That game is scheduled for 6 p.m., CT at Ellis T. Johnson Arena.

Redhawks Fall to Morehead State
In its first game in over a week, Southeast Missouri dropped a 64-50 decision to Morehead State in Cape Girardeau on Jan. 16. SEMO played for the first time since Jan. 7 after being on pause due to COVID-19 protocols. The Redhawks practiced only once and had a pregame shootaround before facing the Eagles. SEMO scored a season-low 50 points and was outscored 33-19 in the second half during that game. The 19 points also marked the lowest in a half for the Redhawks this year.

Akenten Playing Well
For the first time this season, Nana Akenten scored double figures in two-straight games. Akenten led Southeast Missouri with a double-double 20 points and 11 rebounds at Belmont (Jan. 7). He then topped the Redhawks with 14 points vs. Morehead State (Jan. 16). Akenten made four 3-pointers against the Eagles, marking the third time he drained four in a game this year. He stands tied for third on the team in scoring (9.7 ppg) and leads SEMO with 6.2 rebounds per contest.

Leading at Halftime
The Redhawks have either led or been tied at halftime in seven of its 11 games this season. Southeast Missouri held a 35-33 edge at the intermission at Ohio Valley Conference leader Belmont (Jan. 7). It was the first time SEMO led at the half in 10 meetings with the Bruins.

Harris Returns
Chris Harris, Southeast Missouri's top scorer, returned from a thumb injury vs. Morehead State (Jan. 16). Harris scored five points in 28 minutes against the Eagles. He was out of the starting lineup for the only time this season at Belmont (Jan. 7).

Long Ruled Eligible
On Jan. 14, the NCAA ruled nearby Sikeston native Parker Long eligible to play. Long logged six minutes in his first career game at Southeast Missouri vs. Morehead State (Jan. 16). Twelve of the 14 players on SEMO's roster have now played this season.  

All In
Southeast Missouri has been in every game this season. The Redhawks have been outscored by a tight 4.1 margin, dropped three contests in overtime and one on a last second shot since its 2020-21 campaign began on Nov. 28. SEMO has lost just twice by double figures (77-66, at Belmont, Jan. 7; 64-50, vs. Morehead State, Jan. 16). 

Reed Jr. Back in the Starting Lineup
Eric Reed, Jr. scored double figures in two of his last four games since rejoining the starting lineup on Dec. 30 (at Tennessee Tech). Reed, Jr. scored 14 points at Tennessee Tech and followed that up with 13 vs. Tennessee State (Jan. 2). He enters Tuesday's game as Southeast Missouri's second-leading scorer with 10.4 points per game.

Multiple Threes
Eric Reed, Jr. has gone six of his last seven games with at least two made threes. Reed, Jr. has made multiple 3-pointers in eight of his 11 contests this year. He buried a season-high three 3-pointers vs. Southern Illinois (Dec. 2), Lipscomb (Dec. 7) and at Evansville (Dec. 15). Reed, Jr. ranks first on the team with 20 three-pointers in 2020-21.

3-Point Percentage
Southeast Missouri ranks second in the Ohio Valley Conference with a .358 3-point field goal percentage. The Redhawks have made 83-of-232 three-pointers through 11 contests. SEMO is averaging 7.5 three-pointers a game. 

+18 Free Throw Margin
In their last win over Tennessee State (Jan. 2), the Redhawks held a +18 margin at the free throw line. Southeast Missouri outscored TSU, 40-22, at the charity stripe. The last time the Redhawks outscored an opponent by a +18 margin at the free throw line was vs. Mid-Continent (42-24) on Nov. 22, 2013. 

Top Scorer
Chris Harris scored double figures for the eighth time in 10 starts this season when he finished with 17 points against Tennessee State (Jan. 2). Harris, who leads Southeast Missouri and ranks seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference with 14.9 points a game, has scored over 20 points twice this year. He also ranks third on the team with 20 three-pointers made. Harris finished as SEMO's leading scorer five times thus far. 

Patterson Takes the Court
A day after the NCAA voted all Division I transfers could play immediately, forward Manny Patterson took the court for the first time in a Redhawk uniform. A transfer from Green Bay, Patterson grabbed four rebounds in five minutes off the bench. In six games, Patterson is averaging four points and three rebounds, and leads the team with seven blocks.

Russell Clears 200 Rebounds
Nygal Russell grabbed five rebounds vs. UT Martin (Dec. 18) and, as a result, surpassed 200 rebounds in his career (216). A redshirt-junior, Russell is now approaching 100 assists in his career. He is only one away from that mark.

Working Overtime
The Redhawks went to overtime four times in 11 games this year. Southeast Missouri lost at home to Southern Illinois (87-79) on Dec. 2 and at Lipscomb (80-74) on Dec. 9. The Redhawks also fell to Evansville (66-63) on the road on Dec. 15 and beat Tennessee State (83-79) at home on Jan. 2. SEMO was involved in only one overtime game in 31 contests last season. SEMO's three overtimes against non-conference foes were the most in program history. The Redhawks four overtimes overall are their most in a season since they played five overtime games in 1997-98.

Board Certified
The Redhawks outrebounded their opponent seven times this season. Southeast Missouri ranks fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference with a +3.5 rebounding margin and is outrebounding its opponents, 395-356. The Redhawks are also averaging 9.7 offensive rebounds per contest.

Among OVC Leaders
DQ Nicholas leads Southeast Missouri with 15 steals and 36 assists. Nicholas ranks 14th in the Ohio Valley Conference in assists.

Give it to the Big Man
Redhawks big man Nolan Taylor ranks third on the team in scoring (9.7 ppg) and second in rebounding (5.1 rpg). Taylor has scored double figures in six of his 11 starts and just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine boards at Evansville (Dec. 15). Taylor established season-bests in points (16), assists (5) and minutes (28) against Lipscomb (Dec. 7). He previously scored 10 points vs. Kansas City (Nov. 28) and 14 vs. Southern Illinois (Dec. 2). Taylor is also the Redhawks third-best free throw shooter with a 65.9 percent clip (27-of-41). SEMO is the third Division I school Taylor has played basketball at. Prior to joining the Redhawks, he spent two seasons at Pepperdine and two at Cal Poly. Taylor's 2019-20 campaign was limited to 14 games due to injury.

Seeing Double
The Redhawks currently have two players averaging double figures in the scoring column. Chris Harris leads the way with 14.9 points per game. Eric Reed, Jr. follows with 10.4 points per contest. 

OVC Top-Five
The Redhawks rank among the top five Ohio Valley Conference teams in several categories thus far. Southeast Missouri is second in 3-point field goal percentage (.358), fourth in rebounding defense (32.4 rpg), fifth in rebounding margin (+3.5), fifth in defensive rebounds (26.2 rpg), first in defensive rebound percentage (.804) and fourth in 3-point field goals made (7.5 per game).