Southeast Missouri (10-15, 8-11 OVC) at SIUE (9-15, 7-11 OVC)
Game Information
Date: Saturday, February 27, 2021
Tip-Off: 5 p.m., CT
Location: Edwardsville, Ill.
Arena: First Community Arena (4,000)
Series: SEMO leads, 22-12
Last Meeting: SEMO 64, SIUE 62 (Jan. 28, 2021 | Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (10-15 overall, 10-15 at SEMO; 8-11 OVC). Brian Barone (17-38 overall; 17-38 at SIUE).
Follow the Redhawks
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Clint Allen)
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: SIUECougars.com
Twitter: @SEMOMBB
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri (PDF)
Redhawks Wrap Up Regular-Season Saturday
Southeast Missouri (10-15, 8-11) wraps up its 2020-21 regular-season when it visits SIU Edwardsville (9-15, 7-11) Saturday. Tip is set for 5 p.m., CT at First Community Bank Arena.
Follow the Redhawks
Listen live on the radio at Real Rock 99.3 FM with Clint Allen handling the play-by-play. Watch on ESPN+. Live stats are available at SIUECougars.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.
Series History
Southeast Missouri leads its all-time series against SIU Edwardsville by a count of 22-12. SEMO has won seven of the last 11 meetings between the teams. The Redhawks are 9-8 against the Cougars in Edwardsville.
Redhawks Are In!!
The Redhawks punched their ticket to next week's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament with their 94-88 win over Eastern Illinois (Feb. 25). Southeast Missouri will make its first OVC Tournament appearance since 2017 and 16th all-time in program history. Brad Korn, who is in his first year as a head coach, became the first to lead SEMO to the OVC Tournament since it has been held in Evansville, Indiana.
OVC Tournament Field is Set
All eight spots have been secured for this year's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. Belmont, Morehead State, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Austin Peay, Murray State, Southeast Missouri and SIU Edwardsville are headed to Evansville next week. Final seeding will be set after Saturday's games.
Battle for No. 7
Saturday's matchup between Southeast Missouri and SIU Edwardsville will determine the final No. 7 and No. 8 seeds in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. The winner will get the seven and the loser will be the eight. SEMO will play Wednesday, Mar. 3 either as the No. 7 or No. 8 seed. Game times will be 7 p.m. (as eight seed) or 9:30 p.m. (as seven seed).
Reed, Jr. Paves the Way
Eric Reed, Jr., this week's Ohio Valley Conference Co-Newcomer of the Week, scored a career-high 27 points and buried seven 3-pointers to lead Southeast Missouri in its 94-88 road victory over Eastern Illinois (Feb. 25). SEMO swept the Panthers in two games for the third time in four years. Reed, Jr. shot 10-of-16 from the field and 7-of-9 from 3-point range. It was the third time in five games where he scored over 20 points.
Seven Threes
Eric Reed, Jr. became the first Redhawk to make seven 3-pointers in a game since the 2016-17 season. Ledarrius Brewer made seven threes also vs. Eastern Illinois (Feb. 15) that season.
High Score
The Redhawks clinched their spot in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament by scoring 94 points in their win over Eastern Illinois (Feb. 25). Southeast Missouri last scored 94 or more points in an OVC road game was twice during the 2012-13 campaign. SEMO put up 108 points in a victory at Austin Peay (Feb. 28) and 96 in a win at UT Martin (Feb. 16) that year.
Reed, Jr. Tabbed OVC Co-Newcomer of the Week
Junior guard Eric Reed, Jr. picked up Southeast Missouri's first Ohio Valley Conference honor in 2020-21 when he was named the league's Co-Newcomer of the Week on Feb. 22. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Reed, Jr. had another big week for SEMO, this time leading the Redhawks to a pair of key home victories. He averaged 19 points, five rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in two starts. Reed, Jr. dropped in a season-high 22 points and drained five 3-pointers, while shooting 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from the field in SEMO's 86-81 overtime victory over Austin Peay (Feb. 16). Four days later, he finished with 16 points and a season-best six assists in the Redhawks 94-72 rout of Eastern Kentucky. For the week, Reed, Jr. shot 56 percent (14-of-25) from the field and 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from 3-point range. Additionally, he scored double figures in three-straight games and five of his last seven starts. Reed, Jr. won SEMO's first OVC Newcomer of the Week accolade in over two years. Skyler Hogan was the last to win the honor on Dec. 10, 2018. Tennessee State's Mark Freeman (Player), Jacksonville State's Darian Adams (Co-Newcomer), Morehead State's Johni Broome (Co-Freshman) and Eastern Kentucky's Curt Lewis (Co-Freshman) rounded out the week's honorees.
Going for Another Sweep
The Redhawks go after their third series sweep of an Ohio Valley Conference opponent this season when they face SIU Edwardsville Saturday. Southeast Missouri beat the Cougars, 64-62, in Cape Girardeau on Jan. 28. SEMO swept both Tennessee State and Eastern Illinois this season. The Redhawks have not swept three OVC opponents in a season since 2017-18 (Morehead State, EIU, SIUE).
About SIUE
Like Southeast Missouri, SIU Edwardsville also claimed a spot in next week's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Thursday. SIUE eliminated UT Martin from contention with a 66-53 win in Edwardsville, Illinois. The Cougars snapped a five-game losing streak with the win. SIUE went 4-10 since it last played Southeast Missouri on Jan. 28.
Heating Up at the Right Time
Southeast Missouri won three of its last four games to earn its berth in next week's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. The Redhawks beat Austin Peay, 86-81, in overtime on Feb. 16, cruised to a 94-72 win over Eastern Kentucky on Feb. 20 and downed Eastern Illinois, 94-88, on the road on Feb. 25. SEMO averaged 91.3 points per game in those victories.
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).
Reed, Jr. on a Roll
Eric Reed, Jr. scored double figures in four of his last six starts. Reed, Jr. scored 21 points at Austin Peay (Feb. 13), a 22 vs. Austin Peay (Feb. 16), 16 vs. Eastern Kentucky (Feb. 20) and a career-best 27 at Eastern Illinois (Feb. 25). He shot 60.7 percent (17-of-28) from 3-point range in those contests he scored double figures. Reed, Jr. is Southeast Missouri's second-leading scorer with 10.8 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 three of four. Southeast Missouri is at 10 victories in 2020-21, a +3 improvement in the win column from 2019-20 (7-23). The Redhawks also upped their number of Ohio Valley Conference wins to eight after winning only three conference games in 2019-20.
Over 80 Points
Southeast Missouri scored over 80 points for the fifth time this year when matched its season-high 94 at Eastern Illinois (Feb. 25). 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 five games and Nolan Taylor (knee) did not play at Eastern Illinois (Feb. 25). Love and Taylor's status for Saturday is undetermined at this time.
10 NCAA Division I Wins
Southeast Missouri picked up its 10th NCAA Division I win this season with its 94-88 victory over Eastern Illinois (Feb. 25). SEMO surpassed its number of wins (5) over NCAA Division I teams a year ago by a +5 margin. The 10 Division I wins are SEMO's most in a season since it had 12 in 2017-18.
On the Road
Southeast Missouri is 2-9 in true road games this year. SEMO beat Tennessee State (63-59) on Jan. 19 and Eastern Illinois (94-88) on Feb. 25) for its true road victories in
2020-21.
Leading at Halftime
The Redhawks have either led or been tied at halftime in 13 of their 25 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.
Close Games
Southeast Missouri, which has been outscored by a tight 3.2 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 seven 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; 80-60 at Murray State, Feb. 12; 78-63 at Austin Peay, Feb. 13) 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 nine games decided by no more than five points.
Multiple Threes
Eric Reed, Jr. has gone 15 of his last 21 games with at least two made threes. Reed, Jr. has made multiple 3-pointers in 17 of his 25 contests this year. He buried a season-high seven 3-pointers at Eastern Illinois (Feb. 25). Reed, Jr. ranks first on the team with 55 three-pointers and ranks second in the Ohio Valley Conference in 3-point field goal percentage (.474) this year.
Top Scorer
Chris Harris scored double figures for the 16th time in 24 starts this season when he finished with 18 points vs. Eastern Kentucky (Feb. 20). Harris, who leads Southeast Missouri and ranks 18th in the Ohio Valley Conference with 12.3 points a game, has scored over 20 points twice this year. He also ranks third on the team with 35 three-pointers made. Harris finished as SEMO's leading scorer eight times this year.
Working Overtime
The Redhawks went to overtime five times 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, beat Tennessee State (83-79) at home on Jan. 2 and defeated Austin Peay (86-81) at home on Jan. 16. 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 last played five overtime games in a season during the 1997-98 campaign.
