Eastern Kentucky (18-6, 12-5 OVC) vs. Southeast Missouri (9-14, 7-10 OVC)

Game Information
Date: Monday, February 22, 2021
Tip-Off: 2 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Arena: Show Me Center (7,000)
Series: EKU leads, 33-20
Last Meeting: SEMO 94, EKU 72 (Feb. 20, 2021 | Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (9-14 overall, 9-14 at SEMO; 7-10 OVC). A.W. Hamilton (47-41 overall; 47-41 at EKU).

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

Redhawks Host Eastern Kentucky 
Southeast Missouri (9-14, 7-10) plays host to Eastern Kentucky (18-6, 12-5) Monday. Tip-off of the Redhawks home finale 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. Watch on ESPN+. Live stats are available at GoSoutheast.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.

Series History
The Redhawks and Eastern Kentucky meet for the 54th time Monday. EKU holds a 33-20 lead in the series between these teams. Southeast Missouri hosts the Colonels for the second time in three days. SEMO beat EKU, 94-72, at the Show Me Center on Feb. 20.

Heating Up at the Right Time
Southeast Missouri carries a two-game winning streak into its final stretch of the season this week. The Redhawks beat Austin Peay, 86-81, in overtime on Feb. 16 and cruised to a 94-72 win over Eastern Kentucky on Feb. 20. SEMO averaged 90 points per game in those victories. The last time SEMO averaged 90 or more points per game in consecutive Ohio Valley Conference home matchups was 2014-15. That year, the Redhawks scored 98 in a win over UT Martin (Feb. 12) and 92 in a loss to Murray State (Feb. 14) for a 95 points per game average.

Redhawks Demolish Eastern Kentucky
The Redhawks dominated their first matchup with Eastern Kentucky from start to finish en route to a 94-72 win on Feb. 20. Southeast Missouri played relentless defense the entire way and shot a blistering 62.1 percent from the field in the first half alone. Ten Redhawks made their way into the scoring column as everyone had a hand in dealing EKU its largest loss of the season. Chris Harris led the way with 18 points, Eric Reed, Jr. followed with 16, Nana Akenten had 15 and Nygal Russell chipped in 13.

Big Halftime Lead
Southeast Missouri enjoyed its largest halftime lead of the season when it led Eastern Kentucky, 50-24, on Feb. 20. It was the Redhawks largest halftime lead in an Ohio Valley Conference game since they were ahead of Austin Peay, 65-30, on Feb. 28, 2013 (Clarksville, Tenn.). The 50 first-half points are SEMO's most in any half of basketball this year.

Six New Season-Bests
The Redhawks established five new season-highs in their dominating 94-72 win over Eastern Kentucky (Feb. 20). Southeast Missouri reached those marks in points (94), field goal percentage (.583), 3-point field goal percentage (.560), points in a half (50), assists (26) and 3-pointers made (14).

Redhawks Move to Seventh
Southeast Missouri moved up a spot to seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference standings following its win over Eastern Kentucky. The Redhawks (7-10) are ahead of SIU Edwardsville (6-10), Eastern Illinois (6-12) and UT Martin (5-13), which are also fighting to make this year's eight-team OVC Tournament. SEMO visits EIU on Feb. 25 and SIUE on Feb. 27.

Let's Get Another
A win over Eastern Kentucky on Monday would give Southeast Missouri its second sweep of an Ohio Valley Conference opponent this year. It would also mark the first time SEMO beat EKU twice in a season since 2002.

Reed, Jr. on a Roll
Eric Reed, Jr. score double figures in each of his last three starts. Reed, Jr. scored 21 points at Austin Peay (Feb. 13), a season-high 22 vs. Austin Peay (Feb. 16) and 16 vs. Eastern Kentucky (Feb. 20). He shot 52.6 percent (10-of-19) from 3-point range over that stretch. Reed, Jr. is Southeast Missouri's second-leading scorer with 10.3 points a game.

Senior Farewell
Southeast Missouri honored seniors Nolan Taylor and Evan Morrison prior to tip-off of its game vs. Eastern Kentucky on Feb. 20. Taylor did not play due to a knee injury and Morrison knocked down a 3-pointer with 55 seconds left in that contest.

Redhawks Gaining Momentum
The Redhawks snapped a three-game losing streak with their win over Austin Peay (Feb. 16) and have since won two in a row. Southeast Missouri is at nine victories in 2020-21, a +2 improvement in the win column from 2019-20 (7-23). The Redhawks also upped their number of Ohio Valley Conference wins to seven after winning only three conference games in 2019-20.

Nicholas Sets Career-High in Rebounds
Point guard DQ Nicholas grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds vs. Eastern Kentucky (Feb. 20). Nicholas, Southeast Missouri's second-leading rebounder with just under five (4.9) per game, has led SEMO in rebounding a team-high eight times this year.

Over 80 Points
Southeast Missouri scored over 80 points for the fourth time this year when it put up its season-high 94 vs. Eastern Kentucky (Feb. 20). The Redhawks won all four of their games where they surpassed 80 points.

Love and Taylor Update
Jordan Love (Achilles) missed Southeast Missouri's last three gamea and Nolan Taylor (knee) was out the last two. Love and Taylor are day-to-day and their status for Monday's matchup with Eastern Kentucky is undetermined at this time.

350th NCAA Division I Win
Southeast Missouri is in its 114th season of basketball. On Feb. 16, the Redhawks claimed their 350th victory as an NCAA Division I program with their 86-81 overtime win over Austin Peay. SEMO joined the Division I ranks in 1991-92 and is in its 30th season as an NCAA Division I program. The Redhawks hold an overall Division I record of 351-519.

Homecourt Success
Seven of Southeast Missouri's nine 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, Tennessee Tech, 68-64, on Feb. 4, Austin Peay, 86-81, in overtime on Feb. 16 and Eastern Kentucky, 94-72, on Feb. 20. The Redhawks are 7-5 at home this year. One more win will give SEMO its most home victories since 2016-17 (10-4). The Redhawks are 7-5 on their homecourt in 2020-21.

Four of Six
Southeast Missouri won five of its last seven games at the Show Me Center. SEMO beat SIU Edwardsville, 64-62, on Jan. 28, Eastern Illinois, 75-44, on Jan. 30, Tennessee Tech, 68-64, on Feb. 4, Austin Peay, 86-81 (OT), on Feb. 16 and Eastern Kentucky, 94-72, on Feb. 20.

Nine NCAA Division I Wins 
Southeast Missouri picked up its ninth NCAA Division I win this season with its 94-72 victory over Eastern Kentucky (Feb. 20). SEMO surpassed its number of wins (5) over NCAA Division I teams a year ago by a +4 margin. The nine Division I wins are SEMO's most in a season since it had 12 in 2017-18.

Leading at Halftime
The Redhawks have either led or been tied at halftime in 13 of their 23 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. Six of the the Redhawks nine wins have come when they led at the half this year.

Multiple Threes
Eric Reed, Jr. has gone 14 of his last 19 games with at least two made threes. Reed, Jr. has made multiple 3-pointers in 16 of his 23 contests this year. He buried a season-high five 3-pointers vs. Austin Peay (Feb. 16). Reed, Jr. ranks first on the team with 47 three-pointers and ranks secon in the Ohio Valley Conference in 3-point field goal percentage (.456) this year. 

Up Next
Southeast Missouri hits the road for its final two regular-season games. The Redhawks visit Eastern Illinois on Feb. 25 and SIU Edwardsville on Feb. 27.