Southeast Missouri (9-12, 4-4 OVC) at UT Martin (7-15, 3-7 OVC)

Game Information
Date: Thursday, February 3, 2022
Tip-Off: 8 p.m., CT
Location: Martin, Tenn.
Facility: Elam Center (4,300)
Series: SEMO leads, 44-31
Last Meeting: UTM 69, SEMO 66 (Jan. 26, 2021 | Martin, Tenn.)
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (20-28 overall, 20-28 at SEMO; 13-15 OVC). Ryan Ridder (102-43 overall; 7-15 at UTM).

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

Redhawks Head to UT Martin
Southeast Missouri (9-12, 4-4) heads to UT Martin (7-15, 3-7) Thursday. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m., CT at the Elam 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+. Live stats are available at UTMSports.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.

Series History
Saturday marks the 76th meeting between Southeast Missouri and UT Martin, schools that are separtated less than two hours apart. SEMO leads the all-time series, 44-31, but the Skyhawks came away with wins in the last three matchups between the teams. Each of the previous two meetings were decided by no more than three points. The Redhawks are looking to snap a three-game losing streak against UTM at the Elam Center.

Three of Four
Southeast Missouri closed out January strong with wins in three of its last four contests. SEMO's only loss in that stretch was a one-point (74-73) overtime setback against Morehead State (Jan. 27). The Redhawks beat both Tennessee State (85-63, Jan. 20) and SIU Edwardsville (85-77, Jan. 29) at home, and Eastern Illinois (85-77, Jan. 29) on the road. SEMO wrapped up January with a 4-3 record, its first winning record in January since 2016-17 (5-3).

Free Throw Advantage
The Redhawks outscored SIU Edwardsville, 28-14, at the free throw line to help key their 85-77 victory. Southeast Missouri made 23-of-29 free throws in the second half alone. SEMO attempted a season-high 39 free throws against the Cougars, its most in a game since shooting 51 vs. Tennessee State on Jan. 2, 2021.

Strong Week for Harris
Chris Harris put together a pair of big games off the bench last week. Harris scored a game and season-high 22 points (13 in the first half) in a 74-73 overtime loss to Morehead State (Jan. 27). He shot 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from the field and knocked down four 3-pointers against the Eagles. Two days later, Harris added 17 points and six assists in the Redhawks 85-77 win over SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 29). For the week, Harris averaged 19.5 points and 3.5 assists per game, while shooting 50 percent (12-of-24) from the field and 60 percent (6-of-10) from downtown.

Nicholas Produces
DQ Nicholas reached double figures in the scoring column in back-to-back starts a week ago. Nicholas finished with 12 points and nine rebounds vs. Morehead State (Jan. 27), and topped the Redhawks with 18 vs. SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 29). Nicholas started both games at point guard in the absence of Phillip Russell who was out due to COVID protocols.

Double-Digit Rebounds
Nygal Russell posted double-digit rebounds for the fourth time this season when he just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine boards vs. SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 29). Russell also had 15 rebounds at Southern Illinois (Dec. 15), 11 vs. Youngstown State (Nov. 13) and 10 at Pepperdine (Dec. 18). He leads the Redhawks and ranks sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference with 6.7 rebounds a game.

Overtime Games
The Redhawks played their sixth overtime game in two years under Head Coach Brad Korn against Morehead State on Jan. 27. Southeast Missouri fell to 2-4 in overtime matchups with Korn at the helm.

Russell Misses Last Two Games
Four-time Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week point guard Phillip Russell missed the Morehead State (Jan. 27) and SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 29) games last week. Russell was out due to COVID protocols. He was the only Redhawk who started every game this year prior to the Morehead State contest.

Last Time Out
Eric Reed, Jr. and DQ Nicholas each scored 18 points to lead Southeast Missouri to an 85-77 victory over SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 29). SEMO improved to 15-4 against the Cougars at the Show Me Center. The Redhawks led for 31:20 of the contest and never trailed in the second half. Reed, Jr. also made 10-of-12 free throws and Nygal Russell narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds. Chris Harris and Nana Akenten scored 17 and 11 points, respectively. 

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. 

Defense Tightens Up
The Redhawks put together their two best defensive performances of the season against Tennessee State (Jan. 20) and Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22). After holding TSU 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 six of its first eight Ohio Valley Conference games. As a result, SEMO ranks second in the league with 81.9 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).

Akenten Rises
Nana Akenten came off the bench to score double figures in five of his last six 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), 12 points at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22) and 11 vs. SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 29). He is Southeast Missouri's third-leading scorer in Ohio Valley Conference play with 10.8 points per game.

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). The Redhawks will go after their second-straight road win when they visit UT Martin Thursday.

10 Again
For the second time this season, Eric Reed, Jr. made 10 free throws in a game when he hit 10-of-12 in Southeast Missouri's win over SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 29). Reed, Jr. ranks first on the team and fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference with a .795 free throw percentage (62-of-78). He also made 10-of-12 free throws vs. Youngstown State (Nov. 13).

Redhawks for Three!
Southeast Missouri is averaging a league-best 10.8 three-pointers made in Ohio Valley Conference games. SEMO buried 86 three-pointers in eight 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 (20) and Eric Reed, Jr. (20) combined for 40 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.

Over 600
DQ Nicholas cleared 600 points in his career with his 12-point effort against Morehead State (Jan. 27). Nicholas now has 624 points as a Redhawk. Eric Reed, Jr. also went over 600 points when he dropped in 18 vs. SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 29). Reed, Jr. has 605 points at SEMO. Meanwhile, Nygal Russell (599) is next to go over that mark. 

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 13th in the Ohio Valley Conference in that category. Russell had six or more assists in a game three times this season.

Redhawks Lead OVC in Free Throw Percentage
Southeast Missouri leads the Ohio Valley Conference in free throw percentage. SEMO is shooting 73 percent (325-of-445) at the line through 21 games. SEMO is shooting over 21.1 free throws per game. 

100th Game 
Nygal Russell scored nine points and had four rebounds in the 100th game of his career vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1). Russell shot 4-of-8 from the field in 24 minutes. He has played in 106 games and made 40 starts as the most experienced player on Southeast Missouri's roster.

Shooting 3s
Southeast Missouri is shooting an average of 25.2 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 34.8 percent from three. SEMO drained an average of 10.8 in its eight Ohio Valley Conference games.

20-Point Games
Redhawk players have accounted for twelve 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). Chris Harris dropped in 22 points vs. Morehead State (Jan. 27). Reed, Jr. has a team-high nine 20-point games in his career.

Starting Combinations
The Redhawks have used eight different starting combinations through 20 games this year. DQ Nicholas, Nygal Russell, Dylan Branson, Manny Patterson and Eric Reed, Jr. marked the eighth lineup when they took the court vs. Morehead State (Jan. 27). 

Free Throw Difference
Opponents have shot 63 more free throws than Southeast Missouri through 21 games this year. As a result, opponents are outscoring the Redhawks by a +50 (375-325) margin at the charity stripe. 

About UT Martin
UT Martin enters the week at sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference standings. UTM dropped its last two-straight games and seven of its previous eight contests. The Skyhawks are second in the league with 100 blocked shots. UTM is one of only two teams in the conference with 100 or more blocks. Morehead State is the other with 127 swats. Three Skyhawks, including KJ Simon (3rd, 31), Chris Nix (3th, 23) and KK Curry (7th, 21) are among the OVC's top shot blockers. Simon and Curry also lead UTM with 16.4 and 10.6 points per game, respectively.