Southeast Missouri (7-12, 5-8 OVC) at Murray State (9-9, 6-7 OVC)
Game Information
Date: Thursday, February 11, 2021
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m., CT
Location: Murray, Ky.
Arena: CFSB Center (8,600)
Series: MSU leads, 61-21
Last Meeting: MSU 77, SEMO 60 (Feb. 1, 2021 | Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (7-12 overall, 7-12 at SEMO; 5-8 OVC). Matt McMahon (119-60 overall; 119-60 at MSU).
Follow the Redhawks
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
Twitter: @SEMOMBB
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri (PDF)
Redhawks Head to Murray State
Southeast Missouri (7-12, 5-8) hooks up with rival Murray State (9-9, 6-7) for the second time Thursday. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m., CT at the CFSB Center.
Follow the Redhawks
Listen live on the radio at Real Rock 99.3 FM with Erik Sean handling the play-by-play. Watch on ESPN+. Live stats are available at GoRacers.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.
Series History
Southeast Missouri and Murray State meet up for the 83rd time Thursday. MSU leads the all-time series, 61-21, and has won its last seven games against the Redhawks.
Redhawks at the CFSB Center
The Redhawks have the most wins over Murray State at the CFSB Center of any opponent. Southeast Missouri beat the Racers six times with its last victory in Murray coming on Jan. 26, 2017 (75-74).
Home Stand Ends
The Redhawks season-long five-game home stand ended with a 66-54 loss to Jacksonville State (Feb. 6). Southeast Missouri went 3-2 over its stretch that began on Jan. 28. It was SEMO's longest home stand in Ohio Valley Conference play in program history.
Three of Five
Southeast Missouri won three of its last five games. SEMO beat SIU Edwardsville, 64-62, on Jan. 28, Eastern Illinois, 75-44, on Jan. 30 and Tennessee Tech, 68-64, on Feb. 4. All of those victories were at the Show Me Center.
Last Time vs. Murray State
The Redhawks led for only 1:59 of their 77-60 loss to Murray State on Feb. 1. MSU drained 12 three-pointers and shot 51 percent from the field for the game. KJ Williams turned in a double-double 26 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Racers.
About Murray State
Murray State enters Thursday's contest at sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference standings, two spots ahead of Southeast Missouri. MSU ranks second in the OVC in scoring defense (67.3 ppg allowed), scoring margin (+9.8), field goal percentage (.503), 3-point percentage (.358), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.300), rebounding margin (+5.3) and assists (17.3 apg). KJ Williams leads the Racers and is fifth in the league in scoring with 15.4 points a game.
Big Second Half Propels Redhawks
The Redhawks trailed by 16 points with 9:28 remaining the first half and 13 at halftime in their game vs. Tennessee Tech (Feb. 4). However, the second half was a different story. Southeast Missouri outscored the Golden Eagles, 42-25, and didn't miss a free throw (14-of-14) in the final 20 minutes en route to its 68-64 come-from-behind win. It was the sixth time SEMO outscored its opponent in the second half this season.
Season-High Free Throw Percentage
Southeast Missouri shot a season-high 94.7 percent at the free throw line against Tennessee Tech (Feb. 4). The Redhawks missed only one free throw going 18-of-19 at the charity stripe. SEMO made its last 15 free throws of the game and went a perfect 14-of-14 in the second half. Five different players went without missing a free throw, including Manny Patterson (2-of-2), Dylan Branson (2-of-2), Eric Reed, Jr. (2-of-2), Chris Harris (5-of-5) and Jordan Love (7-of-7). The Redhawks also made six free throws in the final eight seconds to seal their win over TTU.
Redhawks Match Win Total
With its win over Tennessee Tech (Feb. 4), Southeast Missouri claimed its seventh victory of the season. As a result, the Redhawks matched their total number of wins in 2019-20. SEMO's seventh win came 11 days earlier than it did a year ago. The Redhawks picked up their seventh and final victory of the 2019-20 campaign vs. SIU Edwardsville on Feb. 15.
Season 114
The Redhawks are in their 114th season of basketball. A win Thursday will give Southeast Missouri its 350th victory as an NCAA Division I program. This year is the Redhawks 30th as an NCAA Division I program. SEMO is 349-517 since joining the Division I ranks in 1991-92.
Patterson Goes Off
In just his third start, Manny Patterson notched a season-high 22 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Redhawks against Tennessee Tech (Feb. 4). Patterson shot 10-of-14 from the field in 26 minutes. He became the third Redhawk this season to score over 20 points in a game. Patterson started the last four games for Nolan Taylor who is out with a knee injury. He scored double figures in two of those starts.
Love Steps Up
Jordan Love scored 14 second-half points to help key Southeast Missouri's big comeback win over Tennessee Tech (Feb. 4). Love scored eight points in a row to single-handedly get the Redhawks back in the game. He made a layup, was fouled and converted a 3-point play to make it a two-point game. On SEMO's next possession, Love drew a foul and made two free throws to tie the game and then buried a 3-pointer to put the Redhawks ahead, 55-52, with 7:49 left. He made four free throws in the final four seconds to ice the win. Love's 14 points are a season-high and his 7-of-7 effort at the free throw line is a new career-best.
Largest Victory
The Redhawks put together a dominating complete game 75-44 victory over Eastern Illinois (Jan. 30). Southeast Missouri won a game by double figures for the first time this season. The 31-point victory marked the first time SEMO won an Ohio Valley Conference home game by more than 30 points since 2016-17. SEMO beat Eastern Kentucky, 81-48, on Dec. 31 that year.
Taylor Out
Forward Nolan Taylor will likely miss Thursday's game at Murray State due to a knee injury he sustained in the SIU Edwardsville game on Jan. 28. Taylor missed the last four games.
Dominating the Glass
In its win over Eastern Illinois (Jan. 30), Southeast Missouri outrebounded the Panthers, 50-25. SEMO's +25 rebounding margin was its largest in an Ohio Valley Conference game since it outrebounded Austin Peay, 50-26 (+24) at home on Jan. 26, 2012.
Where The Stand
The Redhawks enter the week at eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference standings with seven games remaining. Southeast Missouri (5-8) is tied with UT Martin (5-8), a win ahead of Eastern Illinois (4-10) and three wins up on Tennessee Tech (2-11) and Tennessee State (2-12). The top eight teams go to this year's OVC Tournament in Evansville, Indiana.
Seven NCAA Division I Wins
Southeast Missouri picked up its seventh NCAA Division I win this season with its 68-64 victory over Jacksonville State (Feb. 4). SEMO surpassed its number of wins (5) over NCAA Division I teams a year ago. The seven Divisision I wins are SEMO's most in a season since it had eight in 2018-19.
On the Road
Southeast Missouri is back on the road for the first time since Jan. 26. The Redhawks are 1-7 in true road games this year.
Getting to the Free Throw Line
In its game at Morehead State (Jan. 21), Southeast Missouri shot 18-of-27 free throws, marking the sixth time this season it had 27 or more free throw attempts. In the last 11 games alone, SEMO has shot a total of 266 free throws for an average of 24 per contest. In two games against Tennessee State, the Redhawks shot 86 free throws and matched a single-game program record with 40 makes in 51 attempts vs. the Tigers on Jan. 2. SEMO outscored its last eight opponents by a combined 180-134 for a +46 margin at the free throw line.
Leading at Halftime
The Redhawks have either led or been tied at halftime in 12 of its 19 games this season. Southeast Missouri held a 35-33 edge at the intermission at Ohio Valley Conference leader Belmont (Jan. 7). It was the first time SEMO led at the half in 10 meetings with the Bruins. Five of the the Redhawks seven wins have come when they led at the half this year.
Homecourt Success
Five of Southeast Missouri's seven wins have come at the Show Me Center this season. The Redhawks beat Lipscomb, 82-77, on Dec. 7, Tennessee State, 83-79, in double overtime on Jan. 2, SIU Edwardsville, 64-62, on Jan. 28, Eastern Illinois, 75-44, on Jan. 30 and Tennessee Tech, 68-64, on Feb. 4. The Redhawks are 5-5 at home this year. SEMO had six wins at the Show Me Center last season.
Close Games
Southeast Missouri, which has been outscored by a tight 1.9 margin, dropped three contests in overtime and one on a last second shot since its 2020-21 campaign began on Nov. 28. SEMO has lost five times by double figures (77-66, at Belmont, Jan. 7; 64-50, vs. Morehead State, Jan. 16; 76-65 at Morehead State, Jan. 21; 77-60 vs. Murray State, Feb. 1; 66-54 vs. Jacksonville State) and won six games by no more than five points. SEMO also dropped three games by three points or less. Additionally, the Redhawks been involved in seven games decided by no more than four points.
Multiple Threes
Eric Reed, Jr. has gone 10 of his last 15 games with at least two made threes. Reed, Jr. has made multiple 3-pointers in 12 of his 19 contests this year. He buried a season-high four 3-pointers vs. Murray State (Feb. 1). Reed, Jr. ranks second on the team with 31 three-pointers in 2020-21.
Top Scorer
Chris Harris scored double figures for the 14th time in 18 starts this season when he finished with 13 points vs. Tennessee Tech (Feb. 4). Harris, who leads Southeast Missouri and ranks 16th in the Ohio Valley Conference with 12.8 points a game, has scored over 20 points twice this year. He also ranks third on the team with 28 three-pointers made. Harris finished as SEMO's leading scorer six times thus far.
Working Overtime
The Redhawks went to overtime four times in 10 games this year. Southeast Missouri lost at home to Southern Illinois (87-79) on Dec. 2 and at Lipscomb (80-74) on Dec. 9. The Redhawks also fell to Evansville (66-63) on the road on Dec. 15 and beat Tennessee State (83-79) at home on Jan. 2. SEMO was involved in only one overtime game in 31 contests last season. SEMO's three overtimes against non-conference foes were the most in program history. The Redhawks four overtimes overall are their most in a season since they played five overtime games in 1997-98.
Board Certified
The Redhawks outrebounded their opponent 10 times this season. Southeast Missouri ranks fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference with a +2.3 rebounding margin and is outrebounding its opponents, 666-623. The Redhawks are also averaging 9.2 offensive rebounds per contest.
OVC Top-Five
The Redhawks rank among the top five Ohio Valley Conference teams in several categories thus far. Southeast Missouri is fifth in scoring defense (69.8 ppg allowed), fourth in rebounding defense (32.8 rpg), fifth in rebounding margin (+2.3) and fifth in defensive rebounds (25.9 rpg).
