Southeast Missouri (5-5) at Southern Illinois (5-4, 1-0 MVC)

Game Information
Date: Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Tip-Off: 7 p.m., CT
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Facility: Banterra Center (8,284)
Series: SIU leads, 72-46
Last Meeting: SIU 87, SEMO 79 (OT) (Dec. 2, 2020 | Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (16-21 overall, 16-21 at SEMO; 9-11 OVC). Bryan Mullins (33-34 overall; 33-34 at SIU).

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

Redhawks Cross Mississippi River to Face Southern Illinois 
Southeast Missouri (5-5) makes the short trip to rival Southern Illinois (5-4, 1-0) for a midweek matchup Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., CT at the Banterra 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 SIUSalukis.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.

December Stretch
The Redhawks close out the non-conference portion of their schedule on the road. Southeast Missouri is in the midst of a season-long five-game road stretch with trips to Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec. 11), Southern Illinois (Dec. 15), Pepperdine (Dec. 18) and California Baptist (Dec. 21) before opening Ohio Valley Conference play at Murray State (Dec. 30). The five-game road trip is SEMO's longest under Head Coach Brad Korn.

Regional Rivals
Regional-rivals Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois meet for the 119th time on the hardwood Wednesday. SIU leads the all-time series by a count of 72-46. The Salukis won the last three games of the series and 16 of the previous 19 contests between the teams. SEMO's last win over SIU came on Dec. 9, 2017 (75-69) in Carbondale. The Salukis and Redhawks went down to the wire a year ago. SIU beat SEMO, 87-79, in overtime at the Show Me Center.

Against the Missouri Valley
The Redhawks are 111-197 all-time against the Missouri Valley Conference. Southern Illinois is the third MVC foe on Southeast Missouri's schedule this year. SEMO opened its season with a 99-94 win at Missouri State (Nov. 9) and beat Evansville, 75-73, on Dec. 8. The Redhawks have played Missouri State (147 games) and SIU (118 games) the most out of the Valley.
vs. Southern Illinois 46-72
vs. Drake    0-2 
vs. Evansville    6-11 
vs. Bradley    2-9 
vs. Illinois State    1-8 
vs. Indiana State    1-3 
vs. Missouri State    55-92

Undefeated vs. the MVC
Southeast Missouri is 2-0 against Missouri Valley Conference schools this season with a season-opening win at Missouri State (99-94, Nov. 9) and a home victory vs. Evansville (75-73, Dec. 8). If SEMO wins Wednesday, it willl go undefeated against MVC teams in a season for only the second time in its NCAA Division I era. The Redhawks beat Southern Illinois (87-84) and Missouri State (73-71) by a combined five points at home in 2000-01.

Hello Old Friend
Brad Korn (1999-2004) and Bryan Mullins (2006-09) each played at Southern Illinois before reaching their longterm goals of becoming head coaches. Korn was part of three Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championships and three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Mullins set school records for assists and steals and was point guard for SIU's NCAA Tournament teams in 2006 and 2007, and NIT team in 2008. He is a member of the Saluki Hall of Fame. This year is the first where Mullins will oppose Korn on the sidelines. Mullins did not coach last season's matchup due to COVID-19.

Fun Fact
Brad Korn was 4-1 against Southeast Missouri when he was a player at Southern Illinois. The only time SEMO beat the Salukis with Korn on their roster was Dec. 5, 2000 (87-84, Cape Girardeau). Korn scored six points and had his first career dunk in a 92-80 win over the Redhawks on Dec. 22, 2001.

Tis the Season
Southeast Missouri is off to a 2-1 start in December and has won four of its last seven contests. SEMO recently saw a two-game winning streak end with a 78-65 loss at Horizon League member Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec. 11). The Redhawks face longtime rival Southern Illinois during finals week Wednesday. 

California Dreamin'
After Wednesday's contest, the Redhawks will head to California to face Pepperdine (Dec. 18) and California Baptist (Dec. 21) before Christmas. While in California, Southeast Missouri plans to visit Santa Monica Pier and practice outdoors at the Venice Beach Basketball Courts. The opening of the 1992 movie, "White Men Can't Jump," was filmed in a parking lot along the Venice Boardwalk at Rose Avenue, a mile north of the Venice courts.

See You Next Year
The Redhawks posted a thrilling 75-73 win over Missouri Valley Conference member Evansville (Dec. 8) in its final home game of 2021. Southeast Missouri won't be in Cape Girardeau again until it hosts Austin Peay on New Year's Day.

Redhawks Lead OVC in Free Throw Percentage
Southeast Missouri is first in the Ohio Valley Conference with a .751 free throw percentage. SEMO made 157-of-209 free throws through its first 10 games this season. The Redhawks also attempted an average of 20.9 free throws per game during that stretch. SEMO ranks 36th in the nation in free throw attempts. Four Redhawks, including Manny Patterson (3rd, .821), Chris Harris (4th, .800), Eric Reed, Jr. (6th, .775) and Phillip Russell (8th, .756) are among the top 10 free throw shooters in the OVC.

Reed, Jr. is Back
After missing one game due to illness (not COVID-19), Eric Reed, Jr. returned to score 14 points as one of three Redhawks in double figures at Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec. 11). Reed, Jr. shot 50 percent (5-of-10) from the field and made 3-of-5 free throws in 28 minutes.

Russell Misses Trip to Fort Wayne
Three days after grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds vs. Evansville (Dec. 8), Nygal Russell missed Southeast Missouri's following game at Purdue Fort Wayne. Russell did not make the trip due to illness (not COVID-19). Russell could be back as early as Wednesday at Southern Illinois. 

First Road Loss
The 78-65 setback at Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec. 11) is Southeast Missouri's first true road loss of the season. The Redhawks defeated Missouri State (99-94, Nov. 9) and Incarnate Word (79-76, Nov. 26) prior to that loss.

Every Game Starter
Phillip Russell is the only player who has started every game for the Redhawks this season. Russell enters the week as Southeast Missouri's second-leading scorer with 13.8 points a game. He has scored double figures in eight of his starts and ranks third in the Ohio Valley Conference with a .462 (18-of-39) three-point field goal percentage.

18 in a Row
Nygal Russell has made 18-consecutive free throws dating back to last season. Russell last missed a free throw at Eastern Illinois on Feb. 25, 2021. He is a perfect 11-of-11 at the free throw line this year as the only Redhawk who hasn't missed a free throw.

20-Point Games
Redhawk players have accounted for five 20-point scoring games this season. Eric Reed, Jr. scored 21 points at Missouri (Nov. 9), 23 at Incarnate Word (Nov. 26) and 26 vs. Webster (Dec. 4), while Phillip Russell poured in 21 points vs. Montana State (Nov. 28) and 24 vs. Evansville (Dec. 8). Reed, Jr. has a team-high six 20-point games in his career.

Starting Combinations
The Redhawks have used six different starting combinations through 10 games this year. Manny Patterson, Phillip Russell, Chris Harris, DQ Nicholas and Eric Reed, Jr. marked the sixth lineup when they took the court at Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec. 11). Prior to that, P. Russell, N. Russell, Reed, Jr., Dylan Branson and Patterson went 2-2 in four contests.

Shooting 3s
Southeast Missouri is shooting an average of 22.6 three-pointers per game this season. SEMO attempted a season-high 32 three-pointers vs. Webster (Dec. 4). The Redhawks 10 three-pointers made at Incarnate Word (Nov. 26) and vs. Portland (Nov. 27) are their most in a game in 2021-22. 

Multiple Threes
Phillip Russell buried multiple 3-pointers in seven of his last nine 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 18 three-pointers made rank second on the team. Eric Reed, Jr., who also drained a team-high 21 treys this year, has posted two or more on seven occasions. His season-best is five made 3-pointers vs. Webster (Dec. 4).

3-Pointer Streak
Guard Eric Reed, Jr. has made a 3-pointer in 21-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 28 consecutive contests before missing the Evansville game on Dec. 11.

Approach the Bench
Southeast Missouri received 264 points from its bench through 10 games. SEMO's reserves are contributing an average of 26 points per contest. The Redhawks had a season-high 41 bench points vs. Youngstown State (Nov. 13).

Free Throw Difference
Opponents have shot 40 more free throws than Southeast Missouri through 10 games this year. As a result, opponents are outscoring the Redhawks by a +40 (249-209) margin at the charity stripe. 

About Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois recently had a three-game winning streak end with a close 69-65 loss at Tulsa (Dec. 11). SIU enters Wednesday's matchup with an overall record of 5-4 and 1-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play. Five of the Salukis' nine games were decided by four or less points. Lance Jones is SIU's top scoring threat with 16.5 points a game, while Marcus Domask (15.7 ppg) and Ben Coupet, Jr. (10.7 ppg) also averaged double figures in the scoring column. The Salukis boast the best scoring defense in the MVC allowing opponents to just 59.2 points per game. SIU is limiting opponents to a league-best .332 three-point field goal percentage, as well.

Balanced Attack
Three or more players have scored double figures for Southeast Missouri a total of eight times this season. SEMO is 5-3 when at least three of its players reach double figures in the scoring column.

Mr. Experience
Guard Nygal Russell is Southeast Missouri's most experienced player on this year's roster. Russell has played in a total of 95 games and logged 29 starts in his career. He is in his fourth year with the Redhawks and averages 5.4 points and 3.4 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.