Morehead State (15-5, 7-0 OVC) vs. Southeast Missouri (8-11, 3-3 OVC)

Game Information
Date: Thursday, January 27, 2022
Tip-Off: 8 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Facility: Show Me Center (7,000)
Series: MSU leads, 34-19
Last Meeting: MSU 61, SEMO 54 (Mar. 3, 2021 | Evansville, Ind.)
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (19-27 overall, 19-27 at SEMO; 12-14 OVC). Preston Spradlin (84-82 overall; 84-82 at MSU).

Follow the Redhawks
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
Video: ESPNU (Clay Matvick, Richie Schueler)
Live Stats: SEMORedhawks.com
Twitter: @SEMOMBB
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri (PDF)

Redhawks Host OVC Co-Leader Morehead State
Southeast Missouri (8-11, 3-3) hosts Ohio Valley Conference co-leader Morehead State (15-5, 7-0) in a nationally-televised ESPNU matchup Thursday. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m., CT at the Show Me Center.

Follow the Redhawks
Thursday's game between Southeast Missouri and Morehead State will air live on ESPNU as part of the Ohio Valley Conference's 2021-22 ESPN Basketball Television Package. Clay Matvick and Richie Schueler will call the action. Listen live on the radio at Real Rock 99.3 FM with Erik Sean handling the play-by-play duties. Live stats are available at SEMORedhawks.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.

White Out Thursday
Fans are encouraged to wear white for Thursday's nationally-televised ESPNU tilt with Morehead State. That matchup is officially deemed a "White Out."

Series History
Southeast Missouri and Morehead State meet for the 54th time Thursday on the front end of this year's home-and-home Ohio Valley Conference series. MSU leads the all-tinme series, 34-19, and holds a five-game winning streak against the Redhawks. The Redhawks and Eagles last faced each other at the OVC Tournament on Mar. 3, 2021. MSU won that game by a score of 61-54 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.

Redhawks on ESPNU
This year marks the fifth time Southeast Missouri plays on ESPNU since the 2012-13 season. The Redhawks last played a game televised on ESPNU at Morehead State on Jan. 21, 2021. SEMO's last game at the Show Me Center televised on ESPNU was a 78-72 loss vs. Murray State on Feb. 4, 2016. The Redhawks last won a game on ESPNU when they beat Austin Peay in a 121-116 triple overtime thriller on Jan. 29, 2008. That game was played in Cape Girardeau and the combined 237 points are a Show Me Center record.

Two in a Row
Southeast Missouri carries a two-game winning streak into Thursday's game against Morehead State. SEMO beat Tennessee State (Jan. 20), 85-63, at home and Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22), 87-58, on the road. The Redhawks won back-to-back games for the third time this year. A victory Thursday will give SEMO its longest winning streak of the season.

OVC Update
The Redhawks (3-3) moved to fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference standings following their 85-58 win over Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22). One more victory will give Southeast Missouri its first winning record through its first seven conference games for the first time in five years.

Largest OVC Road Win
The Redhawks recently celebrated their largest Ohio Valley Conference road win in program history when it pounded Eastern Illinois, 87-58, on Jan. 22. The victory surpassed a 27-point (108-81) win at Austin Peay on Feb. 28, 2013.

How May I Assist You?
Southeast Missouri assisted 27 of its 31 made field goals at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22). Phillip Russell distributed a season-high eight assists against the Panthers. The 27 assists are SEMO's most in a game this season. 

Russell Nabs Fourth OVC Freshman of the Week Accolade
Point guard Phillip Russell claimed his fourth Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week honor on Jan. 24. Russell shared the accolade with SIU Edwardsville's Ray'Sean Taylor Russell, who hails from St. Louis, averaged 12 points and 7.5 assists in two wins for SEMO last week. He shot 50 percent (8-of-16) from the field and collected three steals to go along with 15 assists in that stretch. Russell finished with 15 points and seven dishes vs. Tennessee State (Jan. 20) before scoring nine points and distributing a season-high eight assists two days later at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22). Russell and Taylor both lead the OVC with four Freshman of the Week awards this year Morehead State's Johni Broome (Player of the Week) and SIUE's DeeJuan Pruitt (Newcomer of the Week) rounded out the week's honorees.

Defense Tightens Up
The Redhawks enter Thursday's game fresh off their two best defensive performances of the season. After holding Tennessee State to 63 points, Southeast Missouri turned around two days later to limit Eastern Illinois to only 58. SEMO also forced an average of 17 turnovers per game and gave up just 60.5 points in those contests. The 58 points against EIU were the fewest allowed by the Redhawks this year.

Putting Up the Points
Southeast Missouri has scored over 80 points in five of its first six Ohio Valley Conference games. As a result, SEMO leads the league with 82.8 points per game against OVC foes. The Redhawks put up a season-best 98 points in conference play during their victory over Austin Peay (98-79, Jan. 1).

One vs. Two
The Eagles and Redhawks currently have the top two scorers in Ohio Valley Conference games. Morehead State's Johni Broome tops the OVC with 18.3 points per game and Southeast Missouri's Eric Reed, Jr. follows with 18 against league opponents. Reed, Jr. scored 20 or more points three times and reached double figures in four of his first six OVC starts.

Home Winning Streak
Southeast Missouri is presently on a five-game home winning streak after beating Missouri Baptist (71-63, Nov. 22), Webster (76-64, Dec. 4), Evansville (75-73, Dec. 8), Austin Peay (98-79, Jan. 1) and Tennessee State (85-63, Jan. 20). SEMO is on its longest home winning streak in five years. The Redhawks are 5-2 at the Show Me Center this year. One more victory will give SEMO a six-game homecourt winning streak for the first time since 2007-08.

Akenten Rises
Nana Akenten came off the bench to score double figures in each of his last four games. Akenten dropped in a season-high 19 points at Belmont (Jan. 6) and followed that up with 16 and 17 points against Tennessee State (Jan. 8, Jan. 20), and 12 points at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22). He made 15 three-pointers and shot 56.4 percent (22-of-39) from the field during that stretch. In two games against TSU alone, Akenten averaged 16.5 points. He is Southeast Missouri's third-leading scorer with 12.2 points per game in Ohio Valley Conference play. 

Redhawks End Road Skid
The Redhawks ended a seven-game losing streak in true road games with their 87-58 victory over Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22). Southeast Missouri improved to 3-7 in true road contests after winning its first road game since Nov. 26 (at Incarnate Word, 79-76).

Back to Work
After a 12-day layoff, the Redhawks thumped Tennessee State, 85-63, Thursday night at the Show Me Center. Southeast Missouri did not play a week ago due to COVID protocols within its program. The victory marked SEMO's second in Ohio Valley Conference play and put the Redhawks at fifth in the league standings entering this weekend.

Lots of Positives
The Redhawks posted their second-largest win of the season with their 85-63 win over Tennessee State (Jan. 20). Defensively, Southeast Missouri put together a strong effort forcing 17 turnovers and holding the Tigers to 63 points. SEMO also shot a season-best 57.4 percent (31-of-54) from the field.

Branson Hits Career-High
Dylan Branson scored a career-high 15 points to lead four Redhawks in double figures against Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22). Branson scored 12 points in the first half alone. He rallied Southeast Missouri early by draining a pair of 3-pointers and scoring 10 points in the opening 6:10 of the contest. It was the second time Branson scored double figures in his career.

Redhawks for Three!
Southeast Missouri is averaging a league-best 12 three-pointers made in Ohio Valley Conference games. SEMO buried 72 three-pointers in six conference matchups. The Redhawks made a season-high 17 three-pointers vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1) and have drained 12 or more in four of their OVC contests. Nana Akenten and Eric Reed, Jr. have made 18 apiece combining for half of SEMO's made threes in league action.

COVID Protocols
The Redhawks missed two games due to COVID protocols within their program. Southeast Missouri was scheduled to play Tennessee Tech at home on Jan. 13 and SIU Edwardsville on the road Jan. 15. SEMO's game with TTU will not be rescheduled at this time since the Golden Eagles already reached their four-game rescheduling limit. In the event a window opens up on a Thursday or Saturday due to other postponements, the Conference office will work with both schools to reschedule that game. If the game is not rescheduled, it will become a no-contest. Meanwhile, the Redhawks game at SIUE has been rescheduled for Feb. 7 at 7 p.m., CT.

Coming Up on 600
The career-point meter is approaching 600 for DQ Nicholas, Nygal Russell and Eric Reed, Jr. Nicholas currently has 594 points as a Redhawk, while Russell and Reed, Jr. follow with 583 and 576, respectively.

Doing the Dishes
Redshirt-freshman Phillip Russell dished out a season-high eight assists at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22). Russell averaged 7.5 assists in his last two starts. He leads Southeast Missouri with 56 assists and ranks 14th in the Ohio Valley Conference in that category. Russell had six or more assists in a game three times this season.

Chase's Place
Chase Thompson established a season-high nine points on 3-of-4 field goals against Tennessee State (Jan. 20). Two days later, Thompson logged a season-best 23 minutes. He had scored no more than four points in 13 games prior to his effort at TSU.

Nearly Everyone Scores
Nine of Southeast Missouri's 10 available players got in the scoring column during the Redhawks rout of Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22). All nine of those players scored in the first half. Dylan Branson (15), Chris Harris (14), Nana Akenten (12), Manny Patterson (11), Phillip Russell (9), Eric Reed, Jr. (9), DQ Nicholas (8), Nygal Russell (7) and Parker Long (2) scored against EIU.

Redhawks Lead OVC in Free Throw Percentage
Southeast Missouri leads the Ohio Valley Conference in free throw percentage. SEMO is shooting 73.7 percent (289-of-392) at the line through 19 games. The Redhawks have made and attempted more free throws than any other team in the league. SEMO is shooting over 20 (20.6) free throws per game. 

Shooting 3s
Southeast Missouri is shooting an average of 25.4 three-pointers per game this season. SEMO attempted a season-high 35 three-pointers at Murray State (Dec. 30) and at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22). The Redhawks made a season-high 17 three-pointers vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1) and buried 10 or more threes in seven contests this year. For the season, the Redhawks are shooting 35.1 percent from three. SEMO drained an average of 12 in its six Ohio Valley Conference games.

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 14.3 points a game. He has scored double figures in 15 of his starts and ranks ninth in the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring.

20-Point Games
Redhawk players have accounted for eleven 20-point scoring games this season. Eric Reed, Jr. scored 21 points at Missouri State (Nov. 9), 23 at Incarnate Word (Nov. 26), 26 vs. Webster (Dec. 4), 20 at Murray State (Dec. 31), 34 vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1) and 22 at Belmont (Jan. 6), while Phillip Russell poured in 21 points vs. Montana State (Nov. 28), 24 vs. Evansville (Dec. 8),  25 at Pepperdine (Dec. 18), 20 vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1) and 22 at Tennessee State (Jan. 8). Reed, Jr. has a team-high nine 20-point games in his career.

Starting Combinations
The Redhawks have used seven different starting combinations through 19 games this year. Phillip Russell, Nygal Russell, Dylan Branson, Sam Thompson and Eric Reed, Jr. marked the seventh lineup when they took the court at California Baptist (Dec. 21). 

Keep it Up Reed
Guard Eric Reed, Jr. made a 3-pointer in 27 of his last 30 games dating back to last season. Reed, Jr. buried a 3-pointer in 22-straight contests before that streak came to an end at Pepperdine (Dec. 18). It was the first time he went without a made 3-pointer since the SIU Edwardsville game on Jan. 28, 2021.

Free Throw Difference
Opponents have shot 74 more free throws than Southeast Missouri through 19 games this year. As a result, opponents are outscoring the Redhawks by a +59 (348-289) margin at the charity stripe. 

About Morehead State
Morehead State is one of just two Ohio Valley Conference teams remaining that are undefeated in league play. MSU comes to Cape Girardeau with an overall record of 15-5 and 7-0 in OVC action. The Eagles are tied for first with Murray State at the top of the standings. MSU is on a nine-game winning streak, currently longest in the OVC. The Eagles captured their first OVC Tournament title in over a decade last season. Johni Broome, this year's OVC Co-Preseason Player of the Year, is averaging a double-double 16.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He is the league's top rebounder and shot-blocker (3.4 bpg) who has turned in 13 double-doubles in his 20 starts. Broome ranks fifth in the nation with 71 blocks. As a team, MSU is eighth nationally with 115 blocks. The Eagles also lead the OVC and rank 18th in the country with a .381 three-point field goal percentage and are second in the league in scoring defense (63.6 ppg allowed).