Southeast Missouri (5-5) at Arkansas State (5-5)

Game Information
Date: Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Tip-Off: 7 p.m., CT
Location: Jonesboro, Ark.
Facility: First National Bank Arena (10,563)
Series: SEMO leads, 31-30
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (30-39 overall; 30-39 at SEMO; 17-20 OVC). Mike Balado (72-83 overall; 72-83 at ASU; 36-50 Sun Belt Conference).

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

Redhawks Head to Arkansas State 
Southeast Missouri (5-5) visits Sun Belt Conference member Arkansas State (5-5) for a midweek matchup Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., CT at First National Bank Arena.

Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen live on the radio at Real Rock 99.3 FM. Erik Sean will be on the call. Video can be accessed at ESPN+. Live stats are available at AStateRedWolves.com and Twitter updates will be provided @SEMOMBB.

Series History
Southeast Missouri and Arkansas State meet on the hardwood for the 62nd time Wednesday. SEMO holds a slight 31-30 edge in the overall series between the teams. The Redhawks return the trip to Jonesboro on the back end of a home-and-home series. ASU defeated the Redhawks, 72-60, in Cape Girardeau last season. The Red Wolves won six- straight against SEMO.

Back in Action
The Redhawks face Arkansas State in the middle of their final exams this week. Southeast Missouri returns to the court after a one-week layoff. SEMO last played against Purdue Fort Wayne at home on Dec. 7.

Last Time Out
Southeast Missouri dropped a 89-68 decision to Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec. 7). SEMO was without Chris Harris (illness), Adam Larson (illness) and Aquan Smart (concussion) in that game. The Redhawks scored the first nine points of the contest, but the Mastodons used a 12-2 run to build a double-digit lead at the half and never trailed again.

Non-Conference Winding Down
The Redhawks are looking to snap a four- game losing skid when they face Arkansas State Wednesday. After that game, Southeast Missouri heads to Big Ten Conference foe Iowa (Dec. 17) before hosting longtime rival Southern Illinois (Dec. 21) in its non-conference finale.

Barnes Heats Up
For the third-straight game, Israel Barnes scored over 20 points when he pitched in a season-high 23 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec. 7). Barnes started each of the last two games and is now Southeast Missouri's second-leading scorer with 14.8 points per contest. He raised his scoring average 10.8 points (from 4.0 to 14.8) in the previous three games alone.

Multiple 20-Point Scorers
For the second time this season, Southeast Missouri had two 20-point scorers in a game. Phillip Russell scored 25 points and Israel Barnes added 23 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec. 7). Prior to that, Russell had 26 points and Barnes finished with 21 at Missouri (Dec. 4). Russell (4) and Barnes (3) have accounted for all seven of SEMO's 20-point performances this season.

Starting Streak
Second-year point guard Phillip Russell has started 21 consecutive games. Russell missed only two starts since joining the Redhawks due to COVID protocols during the 2021-22 campaign. He has 40 career starts and is one of three Redhawks that started all 10 games this year.

OVC Top Two
The Redhawks are tied for first in the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring defense (68.4 ppg allowed). Southeast Missouri is second in free throw percentage (.723), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.296), rebounding margin (+3.2) and defensive rebounding percentage (.759). Individually, Phillip Russell is second in the OVC in scoring (16.8 ppg), first in assists (4.7 apg) and first in free throw percentage (.857), and Kobe Clari ranks second in rebounding (9.4 rpg), blocks (1.4 bpg) and defensive rebounds (6.4 rpg).

On the Road Again
Southeast Missouri plays outside of Cape Girardeau for the eighth time this season when it heads to Arkansas State. SEMO is 3-4 in such games with a 2-3 mark in true road contests. The Redhawks beat South Florida (Nov. 7), Evansville (Nov. 16) and Boston (Nov. 26) away from home in 2022-23.

How May I Assist You?
Phillip Russell matched a career-high eight assists vs. William Woods (Nov. 22). Russell has a total of 142 assists in his career and leads the Ohio Valley Conference with 4.7 per game this season. He has a total of 47 assists through 10 games.

Clark Coming Up on 100 Rebounds
Koby Clark is approaching 100 rebounds this season. Clark's 94 boards are most in the Ohio Valley Conference. He has posted 10 or more rebounds in four games with a season-high 16 vs. Lyon College (Nov. 12).

Up Next
Southeast Missouri makes the trip to Big Ten Conference affiliate Iowa on Dec. 17. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m., CT in Iowa City, Iowa.