Southeast Missouri (5-6) at Pepperdine (4-8)
Game Information
Date: Saturday, December 18, 2021
Tip-Off: 7 p.m., CT
Location: Malibu, Calif.
Facility: Firestone Fieldhouse (3,104)
Series: First Meeting
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (16-22 overall, 16-21 at SEMO; 9-11 OVC). Lorenzo Romar (442-338 overall; 93-98 at Pepperdine).
Follow the Redhawks
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
Video: WCC Network
Live Stats: PepperdineWaves.com
Twitter: @SEMOMBB
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri (PDF)
Redhawks Head West for First Matchup with Pepperdine
Southeast Missouri (5-6) travels west to face West Coast Conference member Pepperdine (4-8) Saturday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., CT at Firestone Fieldhouse.
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 WCC Network and live stats are available at PepperdineWaves.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.
December Stretch
The Redhawks close out the non-conference portion of their schedule in California. 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.
Nice to Meet You
The Redhawks meet Pepperdine for the first time in their program history. Pepperdine is one of 26 NCAA Division I schools in the state of California. The Waves mark the 12th NCAA Division I California opponent Southeast Missouri faces.
California Rundown
Southeast Missouri is 8-7 all-time against NCAA Division I California schools. SEMO has played Cal State Bakersfield (0-1), Cal State Fullerton (0-1), Cal State Northridge (1-0), Cal State Riverside (2-1), Santa Barbara (1-0), Loyola Marymount (0-2), Sacramento State (2-0), San Diego (0-1), San Francisco (1-0), San Jose State (1-0) and Santa Clara (0-1). The Redhawks last made a trip to California during the 2019-20 campaign. That year, they played Cal State Fullerton and Santa Clara at the Cable Car Classic in Santa Clara.
Matchup Notes
Southeast Missouri and Pepperdine square off following each school's week of final exams. Pepperdine wraps up a three-game homestand when the Redhawks visit Malibu Saturday. That game will be played on the backend of a doubleheader. Pepperdine's women's basketball team hosts Boise State before the men's contest.
Beautiful Scenery Ahead
Pepperdine University, located in scenic Malibu, California, overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Its campus and athletic facilities are regularly voted among the nation's most beautiful. Malibu, which is just minutes from Los Angeles, is known for being the home of Hollywood movie stars, people in the entertainment industry and other affluent residents.
California Connections
Southeast Missouri assistant Dustin Yoder returns to the state he once coached. Before joining the Redhawks staff, Yoder spent two seasons as associate head coach at Cal State San Bernardino, an NCAA Division II affiliate in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Nolan Taylor, who has not played this year, played two seasons at Pepperdine. Taylor started 20 of 24 games as a freshman for the Waves in 2016-17.
Tis the Season
Southeast Missouri is 2-2 in December looks to snap a two-game losing skid. SEMO recently suffered back-to-back road losses at Purdue Fort Wayne (78-65, Dec. 11) and Southern Illinois (80-55, Dec. 15).
California Dreamin'
In addition to playing Pepperdine (Dec. 18) and California Baptist (Dec. 21), Southeast Missouri plans to visit Santa Monica Pier and practice outdoors at the Venice Beach Basketball Courts during its California trip. 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 160-of-213 free throws through its first 11 games this season. The Redhawks also attempted an average of 19.3 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, .805), Eric Reed, Jr. (6th, .775) and Phillip Russell (8th, .756) are among the top 10 free throw shooters in the OVC.
Redhawks Fall to Southern Illinois
Southeast Missouri scored a season-low 55 points in an 80-55 loss to longtime rival Southern Illinois (Dec. 15). SIU shot 58.5 percent from the field and made 12 three-pointers (10 in the second half) to get by the Redhawks. That game marked the first time Brad Korn returned to his alma mater as a head coach.
On the Road
Southeast Missouri lost two-straight road games and is 2-4 outside of Cape Girardeau this season. SEMO holds a 2-2 record in true road contests.
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 13.5 points a game. He has scored double figures in nine of his starts and ranks seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference with a .426 (20-of-47)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 11 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. 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.
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.
Multiple Threes
Phillip Russell buried multiple 3-pointers in nine of his last 11 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 20 three-pointers made rank second on the team. Eric Reed, Jr., who also drained a team-high 23 treys this year, has posted two or more on eight 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 22-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.
Free Throw Difference
Opponents have shot 50 more free throws than Southeast Missouri through 11 games this year. As a result, opponents are outscoring the Redhawks by a +42 (202-160) margin at the charity stripe.
About Pepperdine
Pepperdine enters the weekend witn an overall record of 4-8. The Waves are coming off a pair of home wins in which they allowed their lowest opponent field goal percentages of the season (.382 by San Jose State and .369 by Alabama State). Houston Mallette was named West Coast Conference Freshman of the Week after averaging 15 points in those two contests. Mallette scored 24 points against Alabama State, the most by any Pepperdine player this season. Lorenzo Romar, who was previously head coach at Washington and Saint Louis, is in his fourth season as head coach at Pepperdine.
Balanced Attack
Three or more players have scored double figures for Southeast Missouri a total of nine times this season. SEMO is 5-4 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.
