Evansville (4-7) vs. Southeast Missouri (4-4)

Game Information
Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Tip-Off: 6:30 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Facility: Show Me Center (7,000)
Series: UE leads, 11-5
Last Meeting: UE 66, SEMO 63 OT (Dec. 15, 2020 | Evansville, Ind.)
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (15-20 overall, 15-20 at SEMO; 9-11 OVC). Todd Lickliter (231-191 overall; 13-36 at UE).

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 Welcome Evansville 
Southeast Missouri (4-4) welcomes Missouri Valley Conference member Evansville (4-7) for a midweek matchup Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 6:30 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.

Holiday Game
The Redhawks host Evansville in their holiday game. Wednsday will feature free pictures with Santa prior to the game and an ugly sweater t-shirt giveaway for Southeast Missouri students. There will also be a Teddy Bear Toss (supporting Toys for Tots) at halftime.

Final Home Game of 2021
Wednesday's matchup with Evansville is Southeast Missouri's final home game of 2021. The Redhawks hit the road for their next five games and won't be back at the Show Me Center until they host Austin Peay on Jan. 1.

December Stretch
The Redhawks will make trips to Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec. 11), Southern Illinois (Dec. 15), Pepperdine (Dec. 18) and California Baptist (Dec. 21) before opening their 18-game Ohio Valley Conference slate at Murray State (Dec. 30). The upcoming five-game road trip is Southeast Missouri's longest under Head Coach Brad Korn.

Series History
Southeast Missouri and Evansville hook up for the 17th time. UE holds an 11-5 advantage in the all-time series. The Purple Aces come to Cape Girardeau for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign. That year, SEMO won by a score of 87-77 on Nov. 20. The Redhawks are 4-3 against UE in Cape Girardeau.

Against the MVC
The Redhawks are 110-197 all-time against the Missouri Valley Conference. Evansville is the second of three MVC schools on Southeast Missouri's schedule this year. SEMO opened its season with a 99-94 win at Missouri State (Nov. 9) and heads to regional rival Southern Illinois on Dec. 15. Here is how the Redhawks fared against Valley foes.
vs. Southern Illinois    46-72
vs. Drake    0-2
vs. Evansville    5-11
vs. Bradley    2-9
vs. Illinois State    1-8
vs. Indiana State    1-3
vs. Missouri State    55-92

Home Winning Streak
Southeast Missouri is presently on a two-game home winning streak after beating Missouri Baptist (71-63, Nov. 22) and Webster (76-64, Dec. 4). With a win over Evansville Wednesday, SEMO will be on its first three-game home winning streak since 2016-17.

Redhawks Win
The Redhawks picked up their fourth win of the season with a 76-64 victory over Webster (Dec. 4). Southeast Missouri's 12-point win was its largest of the season thus far. SEMO also extended its winning streak against non-Division I opponents to 32-straight.

First Month in the Books
The Redhawks wrapped up their first month of the 2021-22 campaign with a 3-4 record. Southeast Missouri returned 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.

Reed, Jr. Reaches Season-Best
Eric Reed, Jr. recently reached a season-best 26 points to lead Southeast Missouri to its 76-64 win over Webster (Dec. 4). Reed, Jr. made 8-of-17 field goals with all but three of those makes coming from 3-point range. He finished with five of SEMO's six 3-pointers made in the contest. Reed, Jr. also hit 5-of-6 free throws, grabbed three rebounds, dished out four assists and added a block in 32 minutes against the Gorloks. He increased his scoring average to a team-high 16.3 points per game.

Something in Common
Guards Eric Reed, Jr. and Phillip Russell each started all eight games this season. Both Reed, Jr. and Russell also lead the team with six double-digit scoring games apiece. Additionally, they have combined for 35 of Southeast Missouri's 61 three-pointers made (57 percent).

16 in a Row
Nygal Russell has made 16-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 9-of-9 at the free throw line this year as the only Redhawk who hasn't missed a free throw.

Patterson Notches Season-High
Manny Patterson narrowly missed a double-double when he dropped in a season-high 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds against Webster (Dec. 4). Patterson made 5-of-7 field goals in his second double-digit scoring game of the season. He scored a combined nine points in three starts prior to that performance.

20-Point Games
Redhawk players have accounted for four 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). Reed, Jr. has a team-high six 20-point games in his career.

Starting Combinations
The Redhawks have used four different starting combinations through eight games this year. Manny Patterson, Eric Reed, Jr., Phillip Russell, Chris Harris and Nygal Russell marked the fourth lineup when they took the court against Webster (Dec. 4). Before 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 23.7 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. SEMO is one of four Ohio Valley Conference teams which shot 190 or more 3-pointers this year. The others are Belmont (271), UT Martin (221) and Morehead State (194).

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 Second in OVC in Free Throw Percentage
Southeast Missouri is second in the Ohio Valley Conference with a .747 free throw percentage. SEMO made 133-of-178 free throws through its first eight games this season. The Redhawks also attempted an average of 22.3 free throws per game during that stretch. SEMO ranks 36th in the nation in free throw attempts. Chris Harris tops the Redhawks with 30 free throws made (30-of-38). Manny Patterson is fourth in the OVC in free throw percentage with a 81.8 percent clip.

Multiple Threes
Phillip Russell buried multiple 3-pointers in six of his last seven 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 second on the team and his .469 mark is third in 3-pointe field goal percentage. Eric Reed, Jr., who also drained a team-high 20 treys this year, has posted two or more on six 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 20-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.

Approach the Bench
Southeast Missouri received 243 points from its bench through eight games. SEMO's reserves are contributing an average of 30.3 points per contest. The Redhawks had a season-high 41 bench points vs. Youngstown State (Nov. 13).

Free Throw Difference
Opponents have shot 38 more free throws than Southeast Missouri through eight games this year. As a result, opponents are outscoring the Redhawks by a +32 (165-133) margin at the charity stripe. 

About Evansville
Southeast Missouri is the fourth Ohio Valley Conference team Evansville faces this season. UE is currently 2-1 in such games with wins over Eastern Illinois (70-54) and Tennessee Tech (59-51) coming in its last three contests. The Purple Aces are last in the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring offense (60.7 ppg), scoring margin (-4.2), field goal percentage (.409), field goal percentage defense (.458), rebounding offense (29.8 rpg), rebounding margin (-3.5) and assists (10.1 apg). Shamar Givance and Jawaun Newton lead UE with 15 and 13.9 points per game, respectively. The Purple Aces beat the Redhawks, 66-63, in overtime at the Ford Center last season.

Balanced Attack
Three of more players have scored double figures for Southeast Missouri a total of six times this season. SEMO is 4-2 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.