Southeast Missouri (10-13, 5-5 OVC) at SIU Edwardsville (7-16, 1-9 OVC)

Game Information
Date: Monday, February 7, 2022
Tip-Off: 8 p.m., CT
Location: Edwardsville, Ill.
Facility: First Community Arena (4,000)
Series: SEMO leads, 24-12
Last Meeting: SEMO 85, SIUE 77 (Jan. 29, 2022 | Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (21-29 overall, 21-29 at SEMO; 14-16 OVC). Brian Barone (24-56 overall; 24-56 at SIUE).

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

Redhawks Open Three-Game Week at SIUE
Southeast Missouri (10-13, 5-5) opens a three-game week with a visit to SIU Edwardsville (7-16, 1-9) Monday. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m., CT at First Community Arena.

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 SIUECougars.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.

Series History
Monday marks the 37th meeting between Southeast Missouri and SIU Edwardsville. SEMO holds a 24-12 advantage in the all-time series. SEMO has won each of the last four games of the series and eight of the previous 11 matchups against SIUE. Nine of the Redhawks wins in the series have come in Edwardsville. SEMO goes for a sweep of the Cougars after beating them, 85-77, on Jan. 29 in Cape Girardeau. If the Redhawks win Monday, they will sweep SIUE in a season for the sixth time in program history.

Makeup Date
The Redhawks and Cougars were initially supposed to play in Edwardsville, Illinois on Jan. 15, but that game was rescheduled to Monday due to COVID protocols in Southeast Missouri's program. SEMO also did not play its originally scheduled home game against Tennessee Tech (Jan. 13) that week.

Four of Six
Southeast Missouri won four of its last six contests. SEMO's losses in that stretch were a one-point (74-73) overtime setback against Morehead State (Jan. 27) and an 84-63 defeat at UT Martin (Feb. 3). The Redhawks beat Tennessee State (85-63, Jan. 20), SIU Edwardsville (85-77, Jan. 19) and Eastern Illinois (63-56, Feb. 5) at home, and Eastern Illinois (85-77, Jan. 22) on the road. SEMO wrapped up January with a 4-3 record, its first winning record in January since 2016-17 (5-3).

10th Win
The Redhawks picked up their 10th win of the season when they beat Eastern Illinois, 63-56, on Feb. 5. Southeast Missouri is one victory away from matching its win total in 2020-21 (11-16). SEMO is also fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference standings with a 5-5 mark. The Redhawks are working to secure their first winning record in OVC play since 2016-17 (9-7).  Additionally, SEMO has not finished a season any higher than fifth in the league standings in 22 years. The Redhawks have seven conference games remaining.

Redhawks Sweep Eastern Illinois
Southeast Missouri completed a two-game sweep of Eastern Illinois when it defeated the Panthers, 63-56, on Feb. 5. SEMO swept EIU for the fourth time in five years. It is the Redhawks first series sweep this year.

3-Point Ambush
The Redhawks made their first five 3-pointers of the game to seize the momentum early in their recent win over Eastern Illinois (Feb. 5). Southeast Missouri finished with 11 threes in the game, including seven during the first half. Eric Reed, Jr. made five 3-pointers, while five six others (Phillip Russell, Nygal Russell, Dylan Branson, Chase Thompson, Chris Harris, Nana Akenten) drained one apiece. SEMO made 26 three-pointers in two games against EIU this season.

Great Effort
Southeast Missouri limited Eastern Illinois to only 15 points in the first half of its 63-56 win on Feb. 5. SEMO led, 34-15, at the intermission after holding the Panthers to just 26 percent (6-of-23) from the field in the opening stanza. It was the fewest points SEMO allowed in a first half of basketball this season. It also marked the first time the Redhawks held an Ohio Valley Conference opponent under 20 first-half points since Feb. 11, 2016 (32-15, vs. UT Martin).

Turnover Frenzy
The Redhawks forced 21 turnovers against Eastern Illinois (Feb. 5). The 21 miscues are currently the most Southeast Missouri has forced through 23 games this year. SEMO scored a season-best 29 points off those turnovers and held a +17 (29-12) margin in that category against the Panthers.

Last Time vs. SIUE
Eric Reed, Jr. and DQ Nicholas each scored 18 points to lead Southeast Missouri to an 85-77 win over SIU Edwardsville on Jan. 29. After trailing, 35-31, at halftime, the Cougars tied the game at 35-35 early in the second half, but SEMO never allowed them to take the lead the rest of the way. The Redhawks led for over 31 minutes of the contest. Additionally, SEMO outscored SIUE, 28-14, at the free throw line with 23 of its made free throws in the second half.

Another 20-Point Game for Reed, Jr.
Eric Reed, Jr. scored 20 or more points for a team-high seventh time this season when he dropped in 21 vs. Eastern Illinois (Feb. 5). Reed, Jr. was the Redhawks only double figure scorer in that contest. 

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.

Russell is Back
Point guard Phillip Russell, who missed two starts due to COVID protocols, was back in the starting lineup at UT Martin (Feb. 3). Russell shot 1-of-9 from the field and 0-of-5 from 3-point range in his return. He also scored four points and dished out three assists. Russell has won Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week honors four times this season.

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.

Defense Tightens Up
The Redhawks put together their three best defensive performances of the season against Tennessee State (Jan. 20), at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22) and vs. EIU (Feb. 5). 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. The Redhawks then forced a season-high 29 turnovers and limited the Panthers to just 57 points on Feb. 5. The 57 points are the fewest allowed by SEMO this season.

Putting Up the Points
Southeast Missouri has scored over 80 points in six of its 10 Ohio Valley Conference games. As a result, SEMO ranks third in the league with 78.1 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 six of his last eight 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), 11 vs. SIU Edwardsville (Jan. 29) and 10 at UT Martin (Feb. 3). He is Southeast Missouri's third-leading scorer in Ohio Valley Conference play with 10.2 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 3-8 in true road contests after winning its first road game since Nov. 26 (at Incarnate Word, 79-76). 

Redhawks for Three!
Southeast Missouri is averaging a league-best 10.4 three-pointers made in Ohio Valley Conference games. SEMO buried 104 three-pointers in 10 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. SEMO is the top 3-point shooting team in OVC play with a 37.5 percent (104-of-277) clip.

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 8 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 638 points at SEMO. Meanwhile, Nygal Russell has 617 points.

Doing the Dishes
Redshirt-freshman Phillip Russell dished out a season-high eight assists at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22). Russell averaged 5.5 assists in his last four starts. He leads Southeast Missouri with 63 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.

Shooting 3s
Southeast Missouri is shooting an average of 25.3 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 eight contests this year. For the season, the Redhawks are shooting 34.7 percent from three. SEMO drained an average of 10.4 in its 10 Ohio Valley Conference games.

Free Throw Difference
Opponents have shot 65 more free throws than Southeast Missouri through 23 games this year. As a result, opponents are outscoring the Redhawks by a +56 (403-347) margin at the charity stripe. 

About SIUE
SIU Edwardsville is last in the Ohio Valley Conference standings with an overall record of 7-16 and 1-9 in the OVC. SIUE enters Monday's matchup on an eight-game losing streak. The Cougars last win was a 66-53 victory at Eastern Illinois on Jan. 13. Four of SIUE's seven wins this season have come at First Community Arena. Freshman Ray'Sean Taylor is the Cougars' top scoring threat with 17.6 points per game and 18.1 ppg against league foes.