#4 Southeast Missouri (13-17) vs. #5 Tennessee State (13-17) or #8 SIU Edwardsville (11-20)
OVC Tournament Quarterfinals
Date: Thursday, March 3, 2022
Tip-Off: 6:30 p.m., CT
Location: Evansville, Ind.
Facility: Ford Center (11,000)
Series: TSU leads SEMO, 29-25/SEMO leads SIUE, 25-12
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (24-32 overall, 24-32 at SEMO; 17-19 OVC). Brian "Penny" Collins (44-72 overall; 44-72 at TSU). Brian Barone (28-60 overall; 28-60 at SIUE).
Follow the Redhawks
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: OVCSports.com
Twitter: @SEMOMBB
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri (PDF)
2022 OVC Tournament Bracket
2022 OVC Tournament Central
Redhawks Open Postseason Play in OVC Tournament Quarterfinals
#4 Southeast Missouri (13-17) opens postseason play against either #5 Tennessee State (13-17) or #8 SIU Edwardsville (11-20) in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Quarterfinals Thursday. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m., CT at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
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 OVCSports.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOMBB.
Series History
The all-time series between Southeast Missouri and Tennessee State stands at 29-25 in favor of the Tigers. SEMO leads the all-time series against SIU Edwardsville by a count of 25-12. The Redhawks split their two games with TSU and swept SIUE this season. SEMO beat the Cougars in five-straight games and nine of the previous 12 matchups between the teams.
OVC Tournament Field
The 2022 eight-team Ohio Valley Conference Tournament includes #1 Murray State, #2 Belmont, #3 Morehead State, #4 Southeast Missouri, #5 Tennessee State, #6 Austin Peay, #7 Tennessee Tech and #8 SIU Edwardsville. SEMO is in the OVC Tournament for the second-straight year under Head Coach Brad Korn. Korn led the Redhawks to their first OVC Tournament in five years during the 2020-21 campaigh, his first season as a head coach.
Back-to-Back OVC Tournament Appearances
Southeast Missouri was one of seven teams that had their Ohio Valley Conference Tournament tickets punched prior to the final day of the regular-season (Feb. 26). SEMO makes back-to-back OVC Tournament appearances for the first time since 2013-14 and 2014-15.
17th OVC Tournament Berth
This year marks Southeast Missouri's 17th trip to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in program history. The Redhawks made the OVC Tournament in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2021 and 2022. SEMO is 11-15 all-time at the league's postseason fling. The Redhawks won their only OVC Tournament title and made their only NCAA Tournament appearance in 2000. SEMO has been in the championship game twice (1999, 2000).
#4 Seed
Southeast Missouri claimed the No. 4 seed in this year's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. It is the first time SEMO is a four-seed in its OVC Tournament history. Additionally, it is the Redhawks highest OVC Tournament seed in 22 years. The highest seed SEMO achieved was No. 2 in both 1999 and 2000. The Redhawks won the OVC Tournament and made their only NCAA Tournament appearance in 2000.
OVC Tournament Experience
Nine players on Southeast Missouri's roster get to experience the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament for the second year in a row. Eric Reed, Jr., Chris Harris, Nana Akenten, Manny Patterson, Nygal Russell, Dylan Branson, Parker Long, DQ Nicholas and Nate Johnson all played in the 2021 OVC Tournament. Freshmen Phillip Russell, Chase Thompson, Sam Thompson and Adam Larson make the first trip to the postseason in their careers.
Against the Field
Southeast Missouri is a combined 3-10 against this year's participating teams in Ohio Valley Conference Tournament play. SEMO is 2-1 vs. Murray State, 0-4 vs. Morehead State, 0-3 vs. Austin Peay, 0-3 vs. Tennessee Tech and 1-0 vs. Tennessee State. The Redhawks have never faced Belmont and SIU Edwardsville in the OVC Tournament.
Records vs. Seeds
The Redhawks will face either #5 Tennessee State or #8 SIU Edwardsville in Thursday's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinals. Here is how Southeast Missouri has fared against all eight seeds in postseason play.
vs. #1 Seed 1-2
vs. #2 Seed 0-4
vs. #3 Seed 2-4
vs. #4 Seed 0-4
vs. #5 Seed 0-1
vs. #6 Seed 2-0
vs. #7 Seed 4-0
vs. #8 Seed 2-0
Reed, Jr. and Russell Collect All-OVC Honors
Southeast Missouri guards Eric Reed, Jr. and Phillip Russell were named to the 2021-22 All-Ohio Valley Conference basketball teams ahead of the league's postseason tournament on Mar. 1. Reed, Jr. earned First-Team accolades, while Russell claimed Second-Team and All-Newcomer accolades. SEMO put a player on both the OVC first and second teams in a season for the first time since 2016-17 (Antonius Cleveland, First-Team; Denzel Mahoney, Second-Team). A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Reed, Jr. is SEMO's top scorer with 16 points per game. He is also the Redhawks top 3-point and free throw shooter with 64 made threes and a 81.7 percent clip (94-of-115) at the charity stripe. Reed, Jr. dished out 50 assists and ranks second on the team with 28 steals. Reed, Jr. enters the postseason ranked sixth in the OVC in scoring, third in free throw percentage, 12th in 3-point field goal percentage (.358), third in 3-point field goals made and third in minutes played (32.2 mpg). He has scored double figures a total of 21 times with 10 of those performances eclipsing 20 or points and two surpassing 30. Reed, Jr. makes his second-straight trip to Evansville, Indiana for the OVC Tournament this week. Right behind Reed, Jr. is St. Louis native Russell with 14.1 points per contest. A redshirt-freshman, Russell started 28 games and leads SEMO with 88 assists and 35 steals, while ranking second with 47 three-pointers made. He reached double-digits in the scoring column in 21 games and put up a season-best 35 points, 10 rebounds and five steals at SIU Edwardsville (Feb. 7), a game the Redhawks won with only seven players (due to COVID protocols). Russell 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 ranks eighth in the OVC in scoring, 10th in assists, 12th in free throw percentage (.742), 11th in steals, 13th in 3-point field goals made, 10th in assist/turnover ratio (1.4) and ninth in minutes played (31.1 mpg). In addition, he won a league-high five OVC Freshman of the Week awards during his first year as a Redhawk. Murray State's KJ Williams was OVC Player of the Year, Morehead State's Johni Broome was selected Defensive Player of the Year and Austin Peay's Elijah Hutchins-Everett was voted Freshman of the Year. Matt McMahon is the OVC Coach of the Year after leading nationally-ranked MSU to the league's regular-season title, the OVC Tournament's top seed and a perfect 18-0 record in conference play.
Last OVC Tournament Matchup
Eric Reed, Jr. scored 17 points and buried five 3-pointers in #7 Southeast Missouri's 61-54 loss to Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Champion and NCAA Tournament participant #2 Morehead State on Mar. 3, 2021. SEMO rallied to beat MSU, 34-32, in the second half, but came up short. The Redhawks trailed, 29-20, at halftime before beginning the second half on an 8-0 run to get within a point. The difference in the game was at the free throw line, where the Eagles outscored the Redhawks, 16-6. At one time, MSU went to the free throw line on eight consecutive possessions.
Senior Duo
Guard Nygal Russell and forward Manny Patterson are the seniors on Southeast Missouri's roster. Russell has played in 115 games in his four-year SEMO career and Patterson has played in 51 games during his two seasons as a Redhawk.
Thrilling Regular-Season Finale
Southeast Missouri gave then-#19 Murray State all it could handle in a heartbreaking 70-68 loss in front of a wild crowd of 2,934 at the Show Me Center on Feb. 26. SEMO led for over 30 minutes in the contest that was decided in the final 2:33 of play. The Redhawks led, 62-50, with 6:38 to go when MSU mounted its comeback with a 15-2 run – that included a six-point swing -- as SEMO went over three minutes without a field goal. Justice Hill buried a second-chance 3-pointer to get the Racers within one before scoring the go-ahead basket on a fastbreak layup off a Redhawk turnover. Down, 65-64, SEMO tied the game on a Nygal Russell free throw with just under two minutes remaining, but Hill came up big again, this time knocking down his second 3-pointer to put MSU ahead, 68-65, with 39 seconds on the clock. On SEMO's next possession, the Redhawks turned the ball over and Hill was fouled. He went to the free throw line and split two shots as the Racers increased their lead to 69-65. MSU later led 70-65 when Trae Hannibal made a free throw and Eric Reed, Jr. quickly answered with a 3-pointer to make it a two-point contest with seven seconds. After Hill was fouled, he missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and SEMO got the ball back for one final chance. Chris Harris' desperation 3-pointer went high off the backboard off the halfcourt inbounds pass.
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.
Reed, Jr. is Rolling
Reigning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week Eric Reed, Jr. has been on a tear as of late. Reed, Jr. has averaged 21 points per game over his last five starts alone. He scored a career-high 35 points at Tennessee Tech (Feb. 17), 28 at Morehead State (Feb. 19) and 21 vs. UT Martin (Feb. 24) during that stretch. Reed, Jr. increased his scoring average to a team-high 16 points per contest.
13th Win
Southeast Missouri picked up its 13th win of the season when it beat UT Martin, 76-69, on Feb. 24. The Redhawks surpassed their win total by a +2 margin 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 125 three-pointers as a Redhawk and surpassed Denzel Mahoney (121, 2016-18) for the 10th-place spot. With 64 threes this season, Reed, Jr. stands just three away from tying Cory Johnson (67, 1998-99) for 10th on the school's all-time single season list, as well.
Home Sweet Home
The Redhawks went 8-3 in their final 11 games at the Show Me Center. Overall, Southeast Missouri went 8-5 at home. The eight wins are the Redhawks most home victories in a season in five years (10-4, 2016-17).
Patterson Steps Up
Manny Patterson is playing his best basketball to date. Patterson scored double figures in four of his last five starts, including a season-high 20 points on back-to-back occasions vs. Belmont (Feb. 12) and at Tennessee Tech (Feb. 17). He also had 10 rebounds for his first career double-double against the Golden Eagles. Most recently, Patterson registered his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds against Murray State (Feb. 26).
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.
What a Show!
Redshirt-freshman point guard Phillip Russell broke a single-game record by freshman during Southeast Missouri's NCAA Division I era when he scored 35 points at SIU Edwardsville (Feb. 7). Russell, who hails from St. Louis, also grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out four assists and had five steals. He is only the second Division I freshman in the last 25 years to get 35+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ steals in a game. The other was Ben Simmons (LSU, Dec. 2, 2015).
Mr. Double-Double
Nygal Russell posted his team-high third double-double when he scored 11 points and pulled down 13 rebounds at Austin Peay (Feb. 10). Russell finished with double-digit rebounds for the fifth time this season. He leads the Redhawks and ranks fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference with 6.8 rebounds a game.
Putting Up the Points
Southeast Missouri scored over 80 points in eight of its 17 Ohio Valley Conference games. As a result, SEMO ranked second in the league with 77.9 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 averaged a league-best 9.6 three-pointers made in Ohio Valley Conference games. SEMO buried 164 three-pointers in 17 conference matchups. The Redhawks made a season-high 17 three-pointers vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 1) and drained 12 or more in six of their OVC contests. SEMO rated first in 3-point shooting during OVC play with a 36.4 percent (164-of-451) clip.
Over 600
DQ Nicholas cleared 600 points in his career with his 12-point effort against Morehead State (Jan. 27). Nicholas now has 673 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 745 points at SEMO. Meanwhile, Nygal Russell has 679 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 (465-of-631) at the line through 30 games. Nationally, SEMO is ranked 11th in free throws made and 12th in free throws attempted.
Starting Combinations
The Redhawks have used nine different starting combinations through 30 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).
Free Throw Difference
Opponents have shot 60 more free throws than Southeast Missouri through 30 games this year. As a result, opponents are outscoring the Redhawks by a +43 (508-465) margin at the charity stripe.
Balanced Attack
Three or more players have scored double figures for Southeast Missouri a total of 26 times this season. SEMO is 12-14 when at least three of its players reach double figures in the scoring column.
Season 115
The Redhawks are in their 115th season of basketball. This year is Southeast Missouri's 31st as an NCAA Division I program. The Redhawks are 367-538 since joining the Division I ranks in 1991-92. SEMO has a total of eight winning seasons as an NCAA Division I program with its last coming in 2013-14 (18-14).
