Southeast Missouri (4-10, 2-6 OVC) vs. SIUE (5-5, 3-1 OVC)

Game Information
Date: Thursday, January 28, 2021
Tip-Off: 8 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Arena: Show Me Center (7,000)
Series: SEMO leads, 21-12
Last Meeting: SEMO 75, SIUE 71 (Feb. 15, 2020 | Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (4-10 overall, 4-10 at SEMO; 2-5 OVC). Brian Barone (13-28 overall; 13-28 at SIUE).

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

Redhawks Host SIUE 
Southeast Missouri (4-10, 2-6) plays host to SIU Edwardsville (5-5, 3-1) Thursday. Tip is set for 8 p.m., CT at the Show Me Center.

Follow the Redhawks
Listen live on the radio at Real Rock 99.3 FM with Erik Sean handling the play-by-play. Watch on ESPN+. Live stats are available at GoSoutheast.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.

Series History
Southeast Missouri leads its all-time series against SIU Edwardsville by a count of 21-12. SEMO has won six of the last 10 meetings between the teams. The Redhawks are 13-4 all-time against the Cougars at the Show Me Center. 

Longest Homestand
The Redhawks open a five-game homestand and will be at the Show Me Center for eight of their next 10 games. The five-game stretch is Southeast Missouri's longest Ohio Valley Conference homestand in program history. It also matches the longest homestand in SEMO's NCAA Division I era. The other time the Redhawks played five home games in a row since moving to Division I was in 1997-98 (vs. Central Methodist, vs. Bradley, vs. Oakland City, vs. Tennessee State, vs. Austin Peay). 

Redhawks to Play Eastern Kentucky Twice at Home in February
Southeast Missouri will now host Eastern Kentucky twice at the Show Me Center in late February. SEMO faces EKU on Saturday, Feb.  20 (5 p.m.) and Monday, Feb. 22 (6 p.m.) as part of the recent schedule change. The Redhawks initial home date against the Colonels scheduled for Feb. 18 will move to Saturday behind SEMO's women's game vs. Morehead State. The Redhawks original road game at EKU on Jan. 23 that was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols in the Colonels program has been rescheduled for Feb. 22 in Cape Girardeau. 

COVID Protocols
The Redhawks have had six of of their initially scheduled dates (Dec. 12, Jan. 9, Jan. 11, Jan. 14, Jan. 16, Jan. 23) this season affected by COVID protocols this season. All of those games were rescheduled.

Road Stretch
Southeast Missouri returns home from a three-game road trip. SEMO went 1-2 during its lengthy stretch with a win at Tennessee State (63-59) on Jan. 19 and losses at Morehead State (76-65, Jan. 21) and UT Martin (69-66, Jan. 26). The Redhawks dropped to 1-7 in true road games this year.

Last Time vs. SIUE
The Redhawks and Cougars split their two-game series a year ago with each team winning on their home floor. SIUE won, 84-65, on Jan. 23, 2020 in Edwardsville and Southeast Missouri beat the Cougars, 75-71, on Feb. 20 in Cape Girardeau.

Going for Fifth NCAA Division I Win 
Southeast Missouri presently has four wins over NCAA Division I teams this season. Last year, the Redhawks recorded five victories against such teams. SEMO's fifth Division I win came against SIU Edwardsville (75-71, Feb. 20) in 2019-20.

About SIUE
SIUE has played just four Ohio Valley Conference games, fewest of any team in the league. The Cougars head to Cape Girardeau at 5-5 overall and 3-1 in OVC play. All of SIUE's games have been on the road thus far. The Cougars beat Morehead State (69-65), Tennessee State (67-65) and Eastern Illinois (87-74) for their conference victories. Statistically, SIUE is third in the OVC in field goal percentage (.453), second in field goal percentage defense (.413), second in 3-point field goal percentage (.352) and first in blocks (6.1 per game). Sydney Wilson (12.8 ppg) and Mike Adewunmi (12.4 ppg) lead the Cougars in scoring. Lamar Wright is the Cougars top shot blocker with 15 swats. 

Last Time Out
Nana Akenten scored 18 points and Southeast Missouri was within a point with a little over a minute left, but UT Martin escaped with a 69-66 win Tuesday. UTM ended a nine-game losing streak, as both of its Ohio Valley Conference wins came against the Redhawks this year. SEMO was again in striking distance down 67-66 with 1:23 to go. Nolan Taylor later went to the free throw line after Ajani Kennedy was charged with a flagrant 1 foul. As a result, Taylor was awarded two shots and the Redhawks would get the ball. Taylor, however, missed both of his attempts with 11 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Chris Harris drove the lane and UTM was initially called for a blocking foul. After the officials reviewed the play, the call was reversed and Harris was charged with an offensive foul instead. DQ Nicholas fouled Kenton Eskridge, who made two free throws to seal the win with six seconds. SEMO had one last chance, but Akenten missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Getting to the Free Throw Line
In its game at Morehead State (Jan. 21), Southeast Missouri shot 18-of-27 free throws, marking the sixth time this season it had 27 or more free throw attempts. In the last six games alone, SEMO has shot a total of 156 free throws for an average of 26 per contest. In two games against Tennessee State, the Redhawks shot 86 free throws and matched a single-game program record with 40 makes in 51 attempts vs. the Tigers on Jan. 2. SEMO outscored its last five opponents by a combined 107-89 for a +18 margin at the free throw line. 

Nicholas Grabs Career-High in Rebounds
DQ Nicholas recently established a new career-high with nine rebounds at UT Martin (Jan. 26). Nicholas is now tied for third on the team with 4.4 rebounds per game.

Akenten Playing Well
Nana Akenten led Southeast Missouri with a double-double 20 points and 11 rebounds at Belmont (Jan. 7). Akenten then topped the Redhawks with 14 points vs. Morehead State (Jan. 16). He made four 3-pointers against the Eagles, marking the third time he drained four in a game this year. Most recently, Akenten led SEMO with 18 points at UT Martin (Jan. 26). He stands third on the team in scoring (9.6 ppg) and leads SEMO with 6.3 rebounds per contest.

Leading at Halftime
The Redhawks have either led or been tied at halftime in 10 of its 14 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. All four of the Redhawks wins have come when they led at the half this year.

Homecourt Success
Two of Southeast Missouri's three wins have come at the Show Me Center this season. The Redhawks beat Lipscomb, 82-77, on Dec. 7 and Tennessee State, 83-79, in double overtime on Jan. 2. SEMO is averaging 82.5 points per game on its homecourt this year. The Redhawks are 2-3 overall at home this year.

Close Games
Southeast Missouri, which has been outscored by a tight 3.9 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 three times by double figures (77-66, at Belmont, Jan. 7; 64-50, vs. Morehead State, Jan. 16; 76-65 at Morehead State, Jan. 21) and won four games by no more than five points. SEMO also dropped three games by three points or less.

Multiple Threes
Eric Reed, Jr. has gone eight of his last 10 games with at least two made threes. Reed, Jr. has made multiple 3-pointers in 10 of his 14 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 23 three-pointers in 2020-21.

3-Point Percentage
Southeast Missouri ranks fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference with a .341 3-point field goal percentage. The Redhawks have made 104-of-305 three-pointers through 14 contests. SEMO is averaging 7.4 three-pointers a game. 

Top Scorer
Chris Harris scored double figures for the 11th time in 13 starts this season when he finished with 12 points at UT Martin (Jan. 26). Harris, who leads Southeast Missouri and ranks 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference with 14.5 points a game, has scored over 20 points twice this year. He also ranks tied for second on the team with 25 three-pointers made. Harris finished as SEMO's leading scorer six times thus far. 

Working Overtime
The Redhawks went to overtime four times in 10 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 nine times this season. Southeast Missouri ranks fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference with a +3.1 rebounding margin and is outrebounding its opponents, 496-452. The Redhawks are also averaging 9.2 offensive rebounds per contest.

Give it to the Big Man
Redhawks big man Nolan Taylor ranks second on the team in scoring (9.7 ppg) and second in rebounding (4.8 rpg). Taylor has scored double figures in seven of his 14 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 fifth-best free throw shooter with a 64.4 percent clip (38-of-59). 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.

OVC Top-Five
The Redhawks rank among the top five Ohio Valley Conference teams in several categories thus far. Southeast Missouri is fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (.341), fourth in rebounding defense (32.3 rpg), fifth in rebounding margin (+3.1), fifth in assists (13.2 apg) and first in defensive rebound percentage (.805).