UT Martin (8-20, 4-12 OVC) vs. Southeast Missouri (12-16, 7-8 OVC) 

Game Information
Date: Thursday, February 24, 2022
Tip-Off: 7 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Facility: Show Me Center (7,000)
Series: SEMO leads, 44-32
Last Meeting: UTM 84, SEMO 63 (Feb. 3, 2022 | Martin, Tenn.)
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (23-32 overall, 23-32 at SEMO; 16-19 OVC). Ryan Ridder (103-48 overall; 8-20 at UTM).

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 Host UT Martin
Southeast Missouri (12-16, 7-8) hosts UT Martin (8-20, 4-12) Thursday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., CT at the Show Me 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 SEMORedhawks.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.

Series History
Thursday marks the 77th meeting between Southeast Missouri and UT Martin, schools that are separtated less than two hours apart. SEMO leads the all-time series, 44-32, but the Skyhawks came away with wins in the last four matchups between the teams. UTM defeated the Redhawks, 84-63, at the Elam Center on Feb. 3.

Back in the OVC Tournament
The Redhawks are in next week's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. Southeast Missouri makes back-to-back OVC Tournament appearances for the first time since 2013-14 and 2014-15. Six teams have locked up their OVC Tournament spots entering the final week of league play. Murray State, Belmont, Morehead State, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech are also in. SEMO is currently fourth in the OVC. Murray State will be the No. 1 seed and the rest of the seeding will be determined following Saturday's games.

Final Push
Southeast Missouri plays its final two games of the regular-season at home vs. UT Martin (Feb. 24) and Ohio Valley Conference leader and #19 Murray State this week. SEMO is fourth in the OVC. If it finishes in that spot, it will mark the first time in 22 years where SEMO has finished higher than fifth in the league.

Reed, Jr. Nabs Second OVC Player of the Week Honor
Guard Eric Reed, Jr. secured Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honors after a massive two games during Southeast Missouri's final road swing of the season. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Reed, Jr. averaged 31.5 points in two starts last week. He opened the week with a career-high 35 points at Tennessee Tech (Feb. 17), his second 30-point effort this season. Two days later, Reed, Jr. dropped in 28 points to lead the Redhawks to a 92-84 win at Morehead State (Feb. 19). For the week, Reed, Jr. shot 46.2 percent (18-of-39) from the field and 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from 3-point range. He also made 86.4 percent (19-of-22) of his free throws and dished out four assists per contest. Reed, Jr. claimed his second OVC Player of the Week honor after winning the award on Jan. 3. TTU's John Pettway (Newcomer of the Week) and Belmont's Will Richard (Freshman of the Week) rounded out the week's honorees.

Big Road Win
The Redhawks snapped a three-game losing streak with a big 92-84 road win at Morehead State (Feb. 19). Southeast Missouri's 92 points are the most scored against MSU by any opponent this season. The Eagles boast the Ohio Valley Conference's second-best scoring defense allowing just 64 points a game. SEMO also dealt MSU only its second loss at home, where it is 12-2. 

12th Win
Southeast Missouri picked up its 12th win of the season when it took down Morehead State, 92-84, on Feb. 19. The Redhawks surpassed their win total from 2020-21 (11-16). 

Reed, Jr. Cracks SEMO's Top-10 Career Leaders in 3-Pointers Made
Eric Reed, Jr. moved to 10th among Southeast Missouri's all-time career leaders in 3-pointers made following his 28-point effort at Morehead State (Feb. 19). Reed, Jr. now has 122 three-pointers as a Redhawk and surpassed Denzel Mahoney (121, 2016-18) for the 10th-place spot. With 61 threes this season, Reed, Jr. stands just six away from tying Cory Johnson (67, 1998-99) for 10th on the school's all-time single season list, as well.

Redhawks Bury 15 Threes at Morehead State
Southeast Missouri shot 50 percent or better from the 3-point line for the second time this season when it drained 15-of-30 at Morehead State (Feb. 19). SEMO ran its total of 3-pointers made to 249 through 28 games. SEMO's team single-season record in 3-pointers made presently stands at 289 (2017-18).

Senior Day Coming Up Saturday
The Redhawks will honor guard Nygal Russell and forward Manny Patterson during their Senior Day when #19 Murray State is in Cape Girardeau Saturday. Senior recognition will take place prior to the scheduled 4 p.m., CT tip-off.

Great Start from Long Range
Southeast Missouri began its game at Tennessee Tech (Feb. 17) by draining seven 3-pointers in a row. The Redhawks finished with 12 threes, including four from both Eric Reed, Jr. and Nana Akenten, and three by Phillip Russell.

Reed, Jr. Puts Up Career-High
Eric Reed, Jr. put up a career-high 35 points in Southeast Missouri's loss to Tennessee Tech (Feb. 17). Reed, Jr., who scored 23 points in the second half, shot 11-of-24 from the field, knocked down four 3-pointers and made 9-of-11 free throws. He also dished out five assists. Reed, Jr. scored over 30 points in a game for the second time this season.

Season OVC Road High
The Redhawks scored their most points in an Ohio Valley Conference road game this season when they scored 94 at Tennessee Tech (Feb. 17). Two days later, Southeast Missouri put up 92 on the road at Morehead State (Feb. 19). SEMO has scored over 80 points against a league foe on the road four times this year.

Status Update
Eric Reed, Jr. and DQ Nicholas, who missed Southeast Missouri's game at SIU Edwardsville (Feb. 7) due to COVID protocols, returned at Austin Peay (Feb. 10). Nicholas scored 12 points off the bench in 25 minutes, while Reed, Jr. played 29 minutes off the bench in that game. Nana Akenten, who did not play for the same reason at SIUE (Feb. 7) and Austin Peay (Feb. 10), returned vs. Belmont (Feb. 12). Meanwhile, Chris Harris, who missed the last three games due to COVID protocols, was back at Tennessee Tech on Feb. 17. SEMO has its full roster of 12 available players intact. 

Make That Five
Southeast Missouri point guard Phillip Russell was a unanimous pick for Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week on Feb. 14. A redshirt-freshman, Russell garnered his league-high fifth OVC Freshman of the Week accolade this season. Russell, who hails from St. Louis, averaged 23 points, five rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.7 steals in three starts last week. He opened SEMO's three-game week with 35 points, 10 rebounds and five steals during a 76-47 road win at SIU Edwardsville (Feb. 7), a game which the Redhawks played with only seven players due to COVID protocols. He broke SEMO's single-game scoring record by a freshman in the Redhawks NCAA Division I era and became only the second Division I freshman in the last 25 years to get 35+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ steals in a game. Russell completed his week with 18 points at Austin Peay (Feb. 10) and 16 points vs. Belmont (Feb. 12). He has scored double figures in 18 of his 24 starts. Russell also shot 88.5 percent (23-of-26) at the free throw line. Additionally, his 35 points at SIUE are tied for second-most by a first-year player in 2021-22 behind Omaha's Frankie Fidler (37, vs. North Dakota). Murray State's KJ Williams (Player of the Week) and SIUE's DeeJuan Pruitt (Newcomer of the Week) rounded out the week's honorees. 

Putting Up the Points
Southeast Missouri has scored over 80 points in eight of its 15 Ohio Valley Conference games. As a result, SEMO ranks second in the league with 78.7 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).

Redhawks for Three!
Southeast Missouri is averaging a league-best 10.1 three-pointers made in Ohio Valley Conference games. SEMO buried 151 three-pointers in 15 conference matchups. The Redhawks made a season-high 17 three-pointers vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1) and have drained 12 or more in six of their OVC contests. SEMO is first in 3-point shooting during OVC play with a 36.7 percent (151-of-411) clip.

Over 600
DQ Nicholas cleared 600 points in his career with his 12-point effort against Morehead State (Jan. 27). Nicholas now has 646 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 715 points at SEMO. Meanwhile, Nygal Russell has 671 points.

Redhawks Second in the OVC in Free Throw Percentage
Southeast Missouri ranks second in the Ohio Valley Conference in free throw percentage. SEMO is shooting 73.7 percent (434-of-589) at the line through 28 games. SEMO is shooting 21 free throws per game. 

Shooting 3s
Southeast Missouri is shooting an average of 25.5 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 10 contests this year. For the season, the Redhawks are shooting 34.8 percent from three. SEMO drained an average of 10.1 in its 15 Ohio Valley Conference games.

Starting Combinations
The Redhawks have used nine different starting combinations through 28 games this year. Chase Thompson, Nygal Russell, Dylan Branson, Manny Patterson and Phillip Russell marked the ninth lineup when they took the court at SIU Edwardsville (Feb. 7). 

Multiple Threes
Phillip Russell buried multiple 3-pointers in 14 of his starts. Russell finished with a season-high five 3-pointers made vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1). His 46 three-pointers made are second on the team. Eric Reed, Jr., who leads the team with 61 treys this year, has posted two or more on 15 occasions. His season-best is seven made 3-pointers vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1).

Free Throw Difference
Opponents have shot 70 more free throws than Southeast Missouri through 28 games this year. As a result, opponents are outscoring the Redhawks by a +54 (488-434) margin at the charity stripe. 

Balanced Attack
Three or more players have scored double figures for Southeast Missouri a total of 25 times this season. SEMO is 11-14 when at least three of its players reach double figures in the scoring column.