Purdue Fort Wayne (5-4) vs. Southeast Missouri (5-4)

Game Information
Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Tip-Off: 7 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Facility: Show Me Center (7,000)
Series: PFW leads, 3-2
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (30-38 overall; 30-38 at SEMO; 17-20 OVC). Jon Coffman (144-116 overall; 144-116 at PFWi; 73-65 Horizon League).

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

Redhawks Welcome Purdue Fort Wayne 
Southeast Missouri (5-4) welcomes Horizon League member Purdue Fort Wayne (5-4) for a midweek matchup Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., CT at the Show Me Center.

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 SEMORedhawks.com and Twitter updates will be provided @SEMOMBB.

Series History
Southeast Missouri and Purdue Fort Wayne hook up on the back end of a home-and- home series. PFW holds a 3-2 edge in the all-time series between the teams. The Mastodons beat the Redhawks, 78-65, on Dec. 11, 2021 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

On the Horizon
The Redhawks face their second Horizon League opponent in three games when Purdue Fort Wayne comes to Cape Girardeau Wednesday. Southeast Missouri dropped an 84-68 decision at Milwaukee on Nov. 28.

Non-Conference Doubleheader 
Southeast Missouri's game against Purdue Fort Wayne will follow SEMO's women's matchup with Western Illinois (5 p.m.). It is the Redhawks only doubleheader during non-conference play this season.

Break Time
After Wednesday's game against Purdue Fort Wayne, Southeast Missouri will have a one-week layoff before its next contest. SEMO will head to Arkansas State (Dec. 14) during its week of final exams (Dec. 12-15). The Redhawks will then travel to Big Ten Conference member Iowa (Dec. 17) and host regional-rival Southern Illinois (Dec. 21) to wrap up their non-conference slate.

Korn vs. the Horizon League
Southeast Missouri is looking to get Head Coach Brad Korn his first win against a Horizon League opponent when it faces Purdue Fort Wayne. SEMO is 0-3 in such games after falling to both Youngstown State (97-79) and PFW (78-65) in 2020-21, and Milwaukee (84-68) this year.

Last Time Out
The Redhawks gave Southeastern Conference member and in-state foe Missouri all it could handle in a 96-89 road loss on Dec. 4. Southeast Missouri was down 19 (82-63) with 8:33 left to play when it battled back to get within six twice in the final minutes. Three Redhawks scored double figures led by Phillip Russell's game-high 26 points.

Lots of Season-Highs
Southeast Missouri established new season- highs in points (89), field goal percentage (.540), 3-pointers made (13) and 3-point field goal percentage (.500) against Missouri (Dec. 4). SEMO's 13 three-pointers were the Redhawks most in a non- conference game since they hit 14 at Florida State on Dec. 17, 2018.

Multiple 20-Point Scorers
For the first time this season, Southeast Missouri had two 20-point scorers in a game. Phillip Russell scored a game and season-high 26 points and Israel Barnes followed with 21. Russell scored over 20 points for the third time this season.

Barnes Named Both OVC Co-Player and Newcomer of the Week
Guard Israel Barnes was named Ohio Valley Conference Co-Player and Newcomer of the Week on Dec. 5. A native of Wichita, Kansas, Barnes recorded back-to-back 20-point performances last week. He averaged 21.5 points and four rebounds in two games, while shooting 53.8 percent (14-of-26) from the field and 50 percent (7-of-14) from 3-point range. Barnes opened the week with a season-high 22 points and four 3-pointers in 22 minutes off the bench at Milwaukee (Nov. 28). He followed that up with 21 points in his first career start at Southeastern Conference member Missouri (Dec. 4). UT Martin's Parker Stewart (Co-Player), Eastern Illinois' Kyle Thomas (Co-Freshman) and Little Rock's Ethan Speaker (Co-Freshman) rounded out the week's honorees.

Barnes Makes First Career Start
Israel Barnes made his first career start at Missouri (Dec. 4). Barnes dropped in 21 points against the Tigers for his second- straight 20-point performance. Southeast Missouri has used four different starting lineup combinations in nine games this season.

Earley Returns
After missing four games with a leg injury, Josh Earley returned to score 15 points off the bench at Missouri (Dec. 4). Earley shot 7-of-9 from the field and grabbed four rebounds in 25 minutes. It was the third time he scored double figures in five games this season.

Starting Streak
Second-year point guard Phillip Russell has started 20 consecutive games. Russell missed only two starts since joining the Redhawks due to COVID protocols during the 2021-22 campaign. He has 39 career starts and is one of four Redhawks that started all nine games this year.

Make that 10 in a Row
Chris Harris has made a 3-pointer in 10-straight games dating back to last season. Harris and Phillip Russell each drained a 3-pointer in all nine contests. Russell (22) and Harris (14) have combined for 36 of Southeast Missouri's 76 three- pointers made.

OVC Top Two
The Redhawks lead the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring defense (66.1 ppg allowed) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.278). Southeast Missouri is second in scoring margin (+6.3), rebounding margin (+3.3) and defensive rebound percentage (.747). Individually, Kobe Clark is second in the OVC in rebounding (9.2 rpg), second in blocks (1.4 bpg) and second in offensive rebounds (3.1 rpg). And, Phillip Russell is first in both assists (4.6 apg) and free throw percentage (.844).