Southeast Missouri (6-10, 1-2 OVC) at Tennessee State (5-8, 0-1 OVC)
Game Information
Date: Saturday, January 8, 2022
Tip-Off: 3 p.m., CT
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Facility: Gentry Center (9,100)
Series: TSU leads, 28-24
Last Meeting: SEMO 63, TSU 59 (Jan. 19, 2021 | Nashville, Tenn.)
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (17-26 overall, 17-26 at SEMO; 10-13 OVC). Brian "Penny" Collins (36-63 overall; 36-63 at TSU).
Follow the Redhawks
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: TSUTigers.com
Twitter: @SEMOMBB
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri (PDF)
Redhawks Face Tennessee State
Southeast Missouri (6-10, 1-2) remains in the Music City to face Tennessee State (5-8, 0-1) Saturday. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m., CT at the Gentry 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+ and live stats are available at TSUTigers.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.
Series History
Southeast Missouri and Tennessee State meet for the 53rd time this weekend. TSU holds a 28-24 advantage in the overall series. The Redhawks swept the Tigers in two games last season. SEMO ended a 23-game losing streak in true road games with its 63-59 win at the Gentry Center a year ago. The Redhawks are 7-17 all-time against the Tigers in Nashville.
First OVC Win
Southeast Missouri picked up its first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season in impressive fashion when it thumped Austin Peay, 98-79, on Jan. 1. With the win, SEMO improved to 14-15 all-time in OVC home-openers. It was the Redhawks first victory in an OVC home-opener since 2016-17. That year, SEMO beat Eastern Kentucky, 81-48, on Dec. 31.
Home Winning Streak
Southeast Missouri is presently on a four-game home winning streak after beating Missouri Baptist (71-63, Nov. 22), Webster (76-64, Dec. 4), Evansville (75-73, Dec. 8) and Austin Peay (98-79, Jan. 1). SEMO is on its longest home winning streak since it won five in a row during the 2016-17 campaign. The Redhawks are 4-2 overall at the Show Me Center this year.
Strong Start in 2022
The Redhawks started the New Year with a 98-79 win over Austin Peay. SEMO and APSU went head-to-head in the only Ohio Valley Conference game that day as all other matchups were postponed. The Redhawks posted a victory in their first game of a New Year for the second-straight season. Last season, SEMO beat Tennessee State, 83-79, in double overtime on Jan. 2.
Redhawks End Skid
Southeast Missouri ended a season-long five-game losing streak with its recent win over Austin Peay (Jan. 1). All five of those losses were on the road with four of those decided by double-digits. The win over the Governors was SEMO's first since the Redhawks edged Evansville, 75-73, on Dec. 8.
Picking Up Where He Left Off
Five days after pouring in a career-high 34 points vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1), Eric Reed, Jr. led Southeast Missouri with 22 points at Belmont (Jan. 6). Reed, Jr. scored all of his points in the first half and buried six more 3-pointers along the way. In his last three starts alone, Reed, Jr. has averaged 25.3 points per game and knocked down 17 three-pointers for an average of nearly six (5.6) per contest in that span. He ranks second in the Ohio Valley Conference with 25.3 points per game against league opponents.
Over 100
With his six 3-pointers made at Belmont (Jan. 6), Eric Reed, Jr. went over 100 in his Southeast Missouri career. Reed, Jr. is 102-of-234 from 3-point range as a Redhawk. His .436 three-point field goal percentage currently ranks third all-time among SEMO's career leaders.
Akenten Produces
Nana Akenten came off the bench to score 19 second-half points in 18 minutes at Belmont (Jan. 6). Akenten shot 6-of-8 from the field with five of his makes coming from 3-point range. His 19 points marked a season-high as he scored double figures for the third time this year. Akenten had scored just 13 points in five games prior to that outburst.
Thompson Hits Double-Digits Again
Freshman Sam Thompson scored double figures for the second time in seven starts this season when he dropped in 10 points at Belmont (Jan. 6). Thompson shot 5-of-8 from the field and grabbed four rebounds in 20 minutes.
Redhawks Take Two OVC Honors
Southeast Missouri shooting guard Eric Reed, Jr. and freshman point guard Phillip Russell earned Ohio Valley Conference weekly honors on Jan. 3. Reed, Jr. won the OVC Player of the Week award for the first time in his career and Russell claimed his third Freshman of the Week accolade this season. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, opened OVC play with a pair of 20-point performances last week. He led SEMO with 20 points at Murray State (Dec. 30) and followed that up with a career-high 34 points two days later in the Redhawks New Year's Day win over Austin Peay (Jan. 1). Reed, Jr. buried seven 3-pointers against the Governors in a game where his team made a season-high 17 treys. His 34 points are the most in a game by any player in the OVC so far this season. For the week, Reed, Jr. averaged 27 points and five rebounds per game, while shooting 56.7 percent (17-of-30) from the field, 75 percent (9-of-12) at the free throw line and 55 percent (11-of-20) from 3-point range. Russell, who hails from St. Louis, scored double figures in two starts a week ago. He averaged 17.5 points, four assists and one steal per contest. Russell also shot 92.8 percent (13-of-14) at the free throw line and 40 percent (6-of-15) from downtown. He scored 20 points vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1) for his fourth game with 20 or more points this year. Additionally, Russell has scored double figures in seven-straight games and 13 of 15 starts in 2021-22. UT Martin guard KJ Simon won the league's Newcomer of the Week award to complete this week's honorees.
Reed, Jr. Goes Off
Guard Eric Reed, Jr. scored an Ohio Valley Conference single-game high 34 points to lead Southeast Missouri to its dominating 98-79 win over Austin Peay (Jan. 1). Reed, Jr. became just the second player in the OVC to score over 30 points in a game this year. Murray State's Tevin Brown scored 33 points vs. Chattanooga (Dec. 18) prior to Reed, Jr.'s performance. The 34 points rank third-most in a game during SEMO's NCAA Division I era.
Eruption from Three
Southeast Missouri erupted for a season-high 17 three-pointers against Austin Peay (Jan. 1). Only SEMO and Belmont (vs. Lipscomb, Dec. 2) have made 17 three-pointers in a game of the Ohio Valley Conference teams this season. The Redhawks shot a blazing 60.7 percent (17-of-28) from downtown with six different players making a three. Eric Reed, Jr. matched a career-best seven three-pointers and Phillip Russell buried five treys to lead the way. SEMO outscored the Governors, 24-3, from 3-point range in the first half alone.
Another Month Starts with a Win
Southeast Missouri began each of its first three months this season with a win. The Redhawks opened the year with a 99-94 victory at Missouri State (Nov. 9), beat Webster University (Dec. 4), 76-64, to start December and began January with a 98-79 pasting of Austin Peay (Jan. 1).
Let's End This
The Redhawks have dropped eight-consecutive games away from Cape Girardeau. Each of the last six matchups in that stretch were true road games. Southeast Missouri is 2-6 in true road contests and hasn't won a game outside of Cape Girardeau since Nov. 26 (at Incarnate Word, 79-76).
Redhawks Second in OVC in Free Throw Percentage
Southeast Missouri ranks second in the Ohio Valley Conference in free throw percentage. SEMO is shooting 75.1 percent (238-of-317) at the charity stripe through 16 games. The Redhawks have made and attempted more free throws than anyone in the league. SEMO is shooting over 19 (29.8) free throws per game. Three Redhawks, including Chris Harris (2nd, .800), Eric Reed, Jr. (4th, .793) and Phillip Russell (9th, .743) are among the top 10 free throw shooters in the OVC.
More on the Free Throw Front
Southeast Missouri sunk a season-high 29 free throws against Austin Peay (Jan. 1). SEMO finished at 29-of-36 for 80.6 at the charity stripe in that game. It marked the third time the Redhawks made 25 or more free throws in a game this season.
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 101 games and made 35 starts as the most experienced player on Southeast Missouri's roster.
Shooting 3s
Southeast Missouri is shooting an average of 24.9 three-pointers per game this season. SEMO attempted a season-high 32 three-pointers vs. Webster (Dec. 4). The Redhawks made a season-high 17 three-pointers vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1) and buried 10 or more threes in six contests this year. For the season, the Redhawks are shooting 34.8 percent from three. SEMO drained an average of 13.6 threes in its last three games alone.
Russell Power
Phillip Russell has scored double figures in seven of his last eight starts. Russell, who ranks second on the team in scoring with 14.1 points per game, recently pitched in 20 vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1). He has scored double figures in 13 of his 16 starts.
Every Game Starter
Phillip Russell is the only player who has started every game for the Redhawks this season. Russell enters the weekend as Southeast Missouri's second-leading scorer with 14.1 points a game. He has scored double figures in 13 of his starts and ranks ninth in the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring.
20-Point Games
Redhawk players have accounted for ten 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) and 20 vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1). Reed, Jr. has a team-high nine 20-point games in his career.
Starting Combinations
The Redhawks have used seven different starting combinations through 15 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). P. Russell, N. Russell, Reed, Jr., Dylan Branson and Patterson are 2-3 in five contests.
Multiple Threes
Phillip Russell buried multiple 3-pointers in 11 of his last 16 starts. Russell finished with a season-high five 3-pointers made vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1). His 33 three-pointers made are second on the team. Eric Reed, Jr., who leads the team with 41 treys this year, has posted two or more on 10 occasions. His season-best is seven made 3-pointers vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1).
Free Throw Difference
Opponents have shot 66 more free throws than Southeast Missouri through 16 games this year. As a result, opponents are outscoring the Redhawks by a +48 (286-238) margin at the charity stripe.
About Tennessee State
Tennessee State enters Saturday's matchup with an overall record of 5-8 and 0-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference. TSU began leagua action with a 94-78 home loss to UT Martin Thursday. The Tigers have three players averaging double figures in the scoring column led by Carlos Marshall's 12.8 points per game. Dedric Boyd (12.5 ppg) and Kassim Nicholson (10.5 ppg) are the others. As a team, TSU is third in the OVC in scoring with 77.3 points per contest and boasts the league's second-best 3-point field goal defense. Opponents are shooting 38.2 percent from long range against the Tigers this year.
