Incarnate Word Thanksgiving Classic

Game Information
Dates: Friday-Sunday, November 26-28, 2021
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Facility: McDermott Center (2,000)
Series: SEMO leads, 19-0
Last Meeting: SEMO 74, MBU 59 (Dec. 29, 2019 | Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (13-18 overall, 13-18 at SEMO; 9-11 OVC). Carson Cunningham (130-112, 23-60 UIW); Shantay Legans (5-1 at Portland); Danny Sprinkle (29-25 at MSU).

Follow the Redhawks
Friday, Nov. 26 - Southeast Missouri vs. Incarnate Word, 12 p.m., CT | Video | Live Stats
Saturday, Nov. 27 - Southeast Missouri vs. Portland, 2 p.m., CT | Video | Live Stats
Sunday, Nov. 28 - Southeast Missouri vs. Montana State, 12 p.m., CT | Video | Live Stats
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
Twitter: @SEMOMBB
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri (PDF)

Redhawks Head to Texas 
Southeast Missouri (2-2) heads to San Antonio, Texas for three games at the Incarnate Word Tournament this weekend. SEMO faces host Incarnate Word (0-4) Friday, Portland (5-1) Saturday and Montana State (1-3) Sunday.

Follow the Redhawks
Listen live on the radio at Real Rock 99.3 FM with Erik Sean handling the play-by-play duties. Video and live stats are available at UIWCardinals.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.

Series History
Southeast Missouri meets both Incarnate Word and Portland for the first time this 2021-22 season. The Redhawks are 0-1 vs. Montana State. SEMO and MSU met in the Cancun Challenge on Nov. 22, 2017. The Bobcats won that game, 88-82.

November Ends
The Redhawks first month of the season ends at the Incarnate Word Tournament. Southeast Missouri is presently 2-2 in November. SEMO last visited Texas on Dec. 5, 2019 where it dropped a 73-64 decision at Abilene Christian.

First Home Win
Southeast Missouri picked up its first home win of the season with a 71-63 victory over Missouri Baptist (Nov. 22) prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. SEMO overcame a 15-point first-half deficit and outscored MBU, 40-27, in the final 20 minutes. The Redhawks improved to 20-0 all-time against the Spartans and ran their winning streak to 31-straight against non-Division I teams.

Tournament Time
The Redhawks compete in their second tournament under Head Coach Brad Korn when they travel to Incarnate Word this weekend. Southeast Missouri will play three games in three days starting Friday. SEMO is 1-0 all-time in tournament play with Korn as its coach.

Russell Nets Career-High
Freshman point guard Phillip Russell scored a career-best 18 points against Missouri Baptist (Nov. 22). Russell made 5-of-8 field goals and did not miss a 3-pointer going a 3-of-3 from long range. He also added 5-of-7 free throws, four steals and three assists. Russell has scored double figures in three-straight contests. He ranks third on the team in scoring with 11.3 points a game.

Reed, Jr. Starts Strong
Guard Eric Reed, Jr. led Southeast Missouri in scoring in three of his first four starts this season. Reed, Jr. leads the Redhawks and ranks 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference with 14.9 points a game. He leads the team with 18-of-21 free throws for a 85.7 percent clip and is averaging 32 minutes per contest. He scored double figures in four of his last five games dating back to last season. 

Redhawks Back on Track
The Redhawks snapped a two-game losing skid with their win over Missouri Baptist (Nov. 22). Southeast Missouri is looking to put together consecutive wins for the first time this young 2021-22 season. The Redhawks recently wrapped up a season-long three game homestand.

Mixing it Up
Dylan Branson, Manny Patterson and Nygal Russell each logged their first starts of the season against Missouri Baptist (Nov. 22). Southeast Missouri has used three different starting lineup combinations through its first four games.

Russell Dials Up from Distance
Phillip Russell leads the Ohio Valley Conference with a .571 three-point field goal percentage. Russell is 8-of-15 from downtown through four games. He has drained multiple 3-pointers in each of his last three starts, including a season-best three vs. both Youngstown State (Nov. 13) and Missouri Baptist (Nov. 22).

Approach the Bench
Chris Harris (16) and Nana Akenten (15) combined for 31 points off the bench to help key Southeast Missouri's win over Missouri Baptist (Nov. 22). Harris made 4-of-9 field goals and a perfect 7-of-7 free throws, while Akenten hit 6-of-12 from the field and buried two 3-pointers. SEMO received a 33 or more point boost from its bench in three of four games this season.

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 76.4 percent clip (84-of-110). Only SIU Edwardsville has shot more free throws (123) than SEMO in the OVC.

About the Tournament Field
This year's Incarnate Word Tournament Field is a combined 8-10. Host Incarnate Word (0-4) is the only winless team in the four-team field. Portland is 5-1, Southeast Missouri is 2-2 and Montana State is 1-3. UIW is led by Josh Morgan who is averaging 17.5 points a game. Portland's only loss of the season came against Arizona State. The Pilots are led by Tyler Robertson's 17 points per contest. Meanwhile, Montana State is led by Jubrile Belo who is scoring 16.3 points a game.

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.

High Scoring Affair
Southeast Missouri (99) and Missouri State (94) combined for 193 points in their season-opening slugfest on Nov. 9. The 99 points marked SEMO's most in a season-opener since it scored 120 in a win over Missouri Baptist on Nov. 19, 1990. Both the Redhawks and Bears also combined to shoot 69 free throws. SEMO made 27-of-34 and MSU hit 25-of-35.

Redhawks at Home
Southeast Missouri is 8-8 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.

Season 115
The Redhawks are in their 115th season of basketball. This year is Southeast Missouri's 31st as an NCAA Division I program. The Redhawks are 356-523 since joining the Division I ranks in 1991-92. SEMO has a total of eight winning seasons as an NCAA Division I program with its last coming in 2013-14 (18-14). 

Mr. Experience
Guard Nygal Russell is Southeast Missouri's most experienced player on this year's roster. Russell has played in a total of 90 games and logged 24 starts in his career. He is in his fourth year with the Redhawks and averages 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for his career.

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.

Big Step Forward
In Brad Korn's first season as head coach in 2020-21, Southeast Missouri made the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament for the first time in four years. The Redhawks finished with an overall record of 11-16 and seventh in the league with a 9-11 mark. SEMO saw a +4 improvement in total wins and a +6 jump in OVC victories from the 2019-20 campaign. The Redhawks' nine conference wins matched their most in a season in 20 years.

2021-22 Schedule
A 31-game schedule with 14 matchups at the Show Me Center is in store for the Southeast Missouri men's basketball team this 2021-22 season. SEMO tips off its season against in-state foe Missouri State on Nov. 3. This year marks the 147th meeting between the schools The Redhawks non-conference home slate features games against Youngstown State (Nov. 13), Arkansas State (Nov. 19), Missouri Baptist (Nov. 23), Webster University (Dec. 4) and Evansville (Dec. 8). SEMO will travel to San Antonio, Texas for a tournament at Incarnate Word University over Thanksgiving weekend. The Redhawks face Portland (Nov. 26), host Incarnate Word (Nov. 27) and Montana State (Nov. 28) as part of the four-team event. The Redhawks close out non-league action on a four-game road stretch with trips to Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec. 11), Southern Illinois (Sept. 15), Pepperdine (Dec. 18) and California Baptist (Dec. 21). Longtime rivals SEMO and SIU hook up for the 118th time on the hardwood. SEMO remains on the road for the start of Ohio Valley Conference play which begins with a visit to rival Murray State (Dec. 30). Two days later, Austin Peay (Jan. 1) comes to Cape Girardeau for the Redhawks OVC home-opener on New Year's Day. The Redhawks also host Tennessee Tech (Jan. 13), Tennessee State (Jan. 20), Morehead State (Jan. 27), SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 29), Eastern Illinois (Feb. 5), Belmont (Feb. 12), UT Martin (Feb. 24) and Murray State (Feb. 26) in home OVC play. Trips to Belmont (Jan. 6), Tennessee State (Jan. 8), SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 15), Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22), UT Martin (Feb. 3), Austin Peay (Feb. 10), Tennessee Tech (Feb. 17) and Morehead State (Feb. 19) complete SEMO's 18-game conference schedule. The 2022 OVC Tournament will be held at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana on Mar. 2-5. This is the fifth-straight year the tournament will be played in that venue.

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.