Missouri Baptist (5-3) vs. Southeast Missouri (1-2)

Game Information
Date: Monday, November 22, 2021
Tip-Off: 7 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Facility: Show Me Center (7,000)
Series: SEMO leads, 19-0
Last Meeting: SEMO 74, MBU 59 (Dec. 29, 2019 | Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (12-18 overall, 12-18 at SEMO; 9-11 OVC). Preston Ingram (35-26 overall; 35-26 at MBU).

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

Redhawks Welcome Missouri Baptist 
Southeast Missouri (1-2) closes out its season-long three-game homestand when it welcomes NAIA affiliate Missouri Baptist (5-3) Monday. Tip-off is set for 7 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 duties. Watch on ESPN+. Live stats are available at SEMORedhawks.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.

Series History
Southeast Missouri and Missouri Baptist square off for the 20th time on the hardwood in a pre-Thanksgiving matchup Monday. SEMO is a perfect 19-0 against MBU and last met the Spartans on Dec. 29, 2019. This year marks the sixth-straight game between the teams in Cape Girardeau. The Redhawks are 14-0 against MBU at the Show Me Center.

Against Non-Division I
Missouri Baptist is the only non-Division I opponent on Southeast Missouri's 31-game schedule this season. SEMO has a 30-game winning streak against non-Division I foes. The Redhawks ran their winning streak to 30 games with a 74-59 victory over Missouri Baptist on Dec. 29, 2019.

Monday Double Feature
Southeast Missouri's only non-conference basketball doubleheader of the season is Monday. SEMO's women's team hosts Arkansas State at 5 p.m., CT with the men hosting Missouri Baptist at 7 p.m. on the backend of the doubleheader.

Reed, Jr. Starts Strong
Guard Eric Reed, Jr. led Southeast Missouri in scoring in each of his first three starts this season. Reed, Jr. leads the Redhawks and ranks fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference with 17 points a game. He leads the team with 18-of-21 free throws for a 85.7 percent clip and is averaging a league-best 33.3 minutes per contest. He scored double figures in four-straight games dating back to last season. 

Freshman Power
Freshman point guard Phillip Russell dropped in a season-high 13 points vs. Arkansas State (Nov. 19). Russell made three field goals and a near-perfect 5-of-6 free throws en route to his second double-digit scoring game in three starts.

Looking to Bounce Back
Southeast Missouri is looking to end a two-game losing streak after dropping back-to-back home games by double figures. SEMO fell to Youngstown State, 97-79, on Nov. 13 and lost to Arkansas State, 72-60, six days later (Nov. 19).

Free Throws for Everyone
The Redhawks shot 69 free throws for an average of 34.5 per game in their first two games this season. Southeast Missouri made 27-of-34 free throws at Missouri State (Nov. 9) and 25-of-35 vs. Youngstown State (Nov. 13). SEMO is currently second in the Ohio Valley Conference in free throw percentage with a 73.9 percent clip (65-of-88). Only SIU Edwardsville has shot more free throws (113) than SEMO in the OVC.

About Missouri Baptist
NAIA and American Midwest Conference member Missouri Baptist comes to Cape Girardeau at 5-3 overall. The Spartans won three of their last four contests and are led by RJ Pair's 12.7 points a game. Pair is one of three MBU players averaging double figures. Brandon Hardy (11.5 ppg) and John Yaeger (10.4 ppg) are the others. Monday's game against Southeast Missouri is an exhibition matchup for the Spartans.

Nice Improvement
If there is one statistical area Southeast Missouri wants to improve this season, it's turnovers. SEMO committed 415 turnovers for an average of 15.4 per game in 2020-21. Through three games this year, the Redhawks have turned the ball over 33 times. As a result, rank 27th in the nation in fewest turnovers.

First Double-Double
Nygal Russell recorded the first double-double of his career when he finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench against Youngstown State (Nov. 13). Russell and Nana Akenten are the only Redhawks on this year's roster currently with at least one double-double in their careers.

Three-Game Homestand
The Redhawks wrap up a season-long three-game homestand against Missouri Baptist Monday. SEMO is 0-2 during the homestand following a 97-79 loss to Youngstown State (Nov. 13) and 72-60 setback against Arkansas State (Nov. 19).

Redhawks at Home
Southeast Missouri is 7-8 at home under Head Coach Brad Korn. Last year's 7-6 mark was SEMO's first home winning record in four seasons.

Reed, Jr. Leads the Way
Eric Reed, Jr. scored 21 points and nailed a huge 3-pointer with 11 seconds left to lead Southeast Missouri to its 99-94 season-opening victory over Missouri State (Nov. 9). Reed, Jr. shot 6-of-13 from the field and did not miss a free throw (7-of-7) in 35 minutes. It was the fourth 20-point game of his career.

Balanced Attack
At least four players scored in double figures during each of Southeast Missouri's first two games of the season. Eric Reed, Jr. and Nygal Russell scored double-digits in both of those contests.

Redhawks Tabbed Fourth in OVC Preseason Poll
Southeast Missouri, after being picked to finish no higher than ninth in the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll each of the last five seasons, was selected fourth in 2021-22. The Redhawks tallied 101 points in the overall voting by OVC Head Basketball Coaches and Communication Directors. The Redhawks achieved their highest OVC preseason ranking in seven years. SEMO was selected third overall (second in the West) ahead of the 2014-15 campaign when the conference was split in divisions. Belmont is this year's preseason favorite after garnering 161 points and all but three of the first-place votes. Morehead State, which represented the OVC in the NCAA Tournament last season, collected 141 points and three first-place nods, while Murray State (136 pts.) took third. Tennessee State (84 pts.), Austin Peay (76 pts.), SIU Edwardsville (65 pts.), Tennessee Tech (62 pts.), Eastern Illinois (43 pts.) and UT Martin (34 pts.) complete the 10-team preseason poll.

Harris Garners OVC Preseason Honors
Guard Chris Harris earned Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference honors for the first time in his career. Harris returns as the team's top scorer. One of five returning starters, Harris averaged 12.3 points per game in 26 starts a year ago. He led the Redhawks in assists (88) and minutes played (30.2 per game), while ranking fourth in steals (25), third in 3-point field goals made (38) and second in free throw percentage (.735). Harris scored double figures in 18 of his starts. Belmont guard Grayson Murphy and Morehead State forward Johni Broome shared the OVC Preseason Player of the Year honor.

Home Game vs. Morehead State will Air on ESPNU
Southeast Missouri's home game against Morehead State will air on ESPNU as part of the 2021-22 ESPN Basketball Television Package. That matchup is set for Thursday, January 27. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., CT at the Show Me Center. This year's slate of Conference basketball games across ESPN networks includes nine total men's basketball games (six regular season contests and three OVC Tournament games) that will appear on one of the linear networks during the season. Four of the regular season matchups and the OVC Tournament semifinals will air on ESPNU, two games will be televised on ESPNews and the OVC Tournament championship game will air on ESPN2.