Webster University (1-5) vs. Southeast Missouri (3-4)

Game Information
Date: Saturday, December 4, 2021
Tip-Off: 2 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Facility: Show Me Center (7,000)
Series: First Meeting
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (14-20 overall, 14-20 at SEMO; 9-11 OVC). Chris Bunch (288-199 overall; 288-199 at WU).

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

Redhawks Host Webster University 
Southeast Missouri (3-4) plays host to Webster University (1-5) Saturday. Tip-off is set for 2 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. Video can be accessed at ESPN+ and live stats are available at SEMORedhawks.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.

Series History
Southeast Missouri hosts its second non-Division I opponent of the season when Webster University comes to Cape Girardeau this weekend. This year marks the Redhawks first meeting with the Gorloks, an NCAA Division III school which is a member of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC).  

First Month in the Books
The Redhawks wrapped up their first month of the 2021-22 campaign with a 3-4 record. Southeast Missouri returns to Cape Girardeau after going 1-2 at the Incarnate Word Thanksgiving Invitational (Nov. 26-28). SEMO beat host Incarnate Word, 79-76, before falling to both Portland (74-68) and Montana State (75-68) in San Antonio, Texas.

December Stretch
Southeast Missouri begins December with its final two non-conference home games -- vs. Webster University (Dec. 4) and Evansville (Dec. 8). After that, the Redhawks are on the road for five-straight games with trips to Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec. 11), Southern Illinois (Dec. 15), Pepperdine (Dec. 18) and California Baptist (Dec. 21). SEMO opens its 18-game Ohio Valley Conference slate at Murray State (Dec. 30). The upcoming five-game road trip will be the longest in two seasons under Head Coach Brad Korn.

Webster Alum
Southeast Missouri Director of Athletics Brady Barke graduated from Webster University with a bachelor's degree in Biology. While a student at Webster, Barke was a member of both the basketball and golf teams. He was a three-time St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) All-Conference selection in basketball and earned SLIAC Academic All-Conference honors three years, as well. Barke was inducted into the Webster University Hall of Fame in 2016.

Against Non-Division I
The Redhawks have a 31-game winning streak against non-Division I foes. Southeast Missouri beat Missouri Baptist, 71-63, in its last matchup with a non-Division I program on Nov. 22.

Non-Conference Home Wins
Southeast Missouri looks to win its second-straight home game against a non-conference opponent when Webster University comes to town Saturday. Southeast Missouri last won back-to-back non-conference home games during the 2018-19 campaign when it beat Quincy, 102-66, on Nov. 12 and Missouri S&T, 72-69, on Nov. 27. Both Quincy and Missouri S&T are non-Division I teams.

Russell Nabs First OVC Freshman of the Week Award
Point guard Phillip Russell claimed the first Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week honor of his career on Nov. 29. In four games, Russell averaged 17 points, three assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest. He shot 51.3 percent (20-of-39) from the field, 55.6 percent (10-of-18) from 3-point range and 72 percent (18-of-25) at the free throw line.

Six in a Row
Freshman Phillip Russell has scored double figures in six-straight games. Russell dropped in a career-high 21 points against Montana State (Nov. 28). He is one of two Redhawks who started all seven games this season.

Harris Sinks Incarnate Word
Chris Harris made the first buzzer-beating shot of his career when he drained a 3-pointer to give Southeast Missouri a thrilling 79-76 win over Incarnate Word (Nov. 26). Tied, 76-76, Harris caught the inbounds pass from Dylan Branson and buried his long range 3-pointer from the left side. Harris missed his first four 3-point attempts prior to his game-winner. For Harris, it was the second game-winning shot of his career. He also made a game-winning 3-pointer with 26 seconds left vs. Purdue Fort Wayne on Nov. 10, 2019. 

20-Point Games
Redhawk players have accounted for three 20-point scoring games this season. Eric Reed, Jr. scored 21 points at Missouri (Nov. 9) and 23 at Incarnate Word (Nov. 26), while Phillip Russell poured in 21 points vs. Montana State (Nov. 28). Reed, Jr. has a team-high five 20-point games in his career.

Starting Combinations
Phillip Russell, Eric Reed, Jr., Nygal Russell, Dylan Branson and Manny Patterson have started each of the last four games for Southeast Missouri. They are 2-2 as SEMO's starting lineup thus far. The Redhawks have used three different starting combinations through seven games this year.

Dialing Up from Distance
The Redhawks drained a season-high 10 three-pointers in back-to-back games at the Incarnate Word Thanksgiving Invitational. Southeast Missouri made 10-of-24 treys for a season-best 41.7 percent against Incarnate Word (Nov. 26). A day later, the Redhawks went 10-of-25 from downtown vs. Portland. 

Redhawks Lead OVC in Free Throw Percentage
Southeast Missouri leads the Ohio Valley Conference with a .758 free throw percentage. SEMO made 119-of-157 free throws through its first seven games this season. The Redhawks also attempted an average of 22.4 free throws per game during that stretch. SEMO ranks 26th in the nation in free throw attempts. Chris Harris tops the Redhawks with 30 free throws made (30-of-38) and Manny Patterson boasts a team-high .875 (14-of-16) free throw percentage. Patterson also leads the OVC in that category.

Multiple Threes
Phillip Russell buried multiple 3-pointers in each of his last six starts. Russell finished with a season-high three 3-pointers made on three occasions -- vs. Youngstown State (Nov. 13), vs. Missouri Baptist (Nov. 22), vs. Portland (Nov. 27). His 15 three-pointers made rank tied for first on the team and eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference. Eric Reed, Jr., who also drained 15 treys this year, has posted two or more on five occasions. His season-best is four made 3-pointers at Incarnate Word (Nov. 26).

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. 

3-Pointer Streak
Guard Eric Reed, Jr. has made a 3-pointer in 19-straight games dating back to last season. The last time Reed, Jr. went without a made 3-pointer was vs. SIU Edwardsville on Jan. 28, 2021. He has also started in 27 consecutive contests.

Approach the Bench
Southeast Missouri received 222 points from its bench through seven games for 42.3 percent of its total scoring output. SEMO's reserves are contributing an average of 31.7 points per contest. The Redhawks had a season-high 41 bench points vs. Youngstown State (Nov. 13).

Free Throw Disparity
Opponents (87) shot 40 more free throws than Southeast Missouri (47) in the last three games. As a result, the Redhawks were outscored 69-35 at the charity stripe. SEMO was also charged with 73 fouls during that span.

About Webster University
Webster University enters Saturday's matchup on a four-game losing streak. The Gorloks are 1-5 this season and average just 61.3 points a game. Wynne Brown, Jr. is WU's only player averaging double figures with 12.8 points per game. The Gorloks are last in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) in scoring.

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.

Balanced Attack
Three of more players have scored double figures for Southeast Missouri a total of five times this season. SEMO is 3-2 when at least three of its players reach double figures in the scoring column.

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.