Lindenwood (7-10, 2-2 OVC) vs. Southeast Missouri (7-10, 2-2 OVC)

Game Information
Date: Thursday, January 12, 2023
Tip-Off: 7 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Facility: Show Me Center (7,000)
Series: First Meeting
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (32-44 overall; 32-44 at SEMO; 19-22 OVC). Kyle Gerdeman (41-52 overall; 41-52 at LU; 2-2 OVC).

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 Lindenwood 
Southeast Missouri (7-10, 2-2) hosts Lindenwood (7-10) on the back end of an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader Thursday. Tip 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. For tickets, call (573) 651-2113 or visit online at SEMORedhawks.com/Tickets.

Series History
This year marks the first meeting between Southeast Missouri and Lindenwood. LU officially became a member of the Ohio Valley Conference on July 1, 2022. The Lions begin their reclassification process to the NCAA Division I level in 2022-23. They will be included in OVC regular season schedules and are eligible to compete in OVC Championships. LU will be eligible to earn automatic berths to NCAA Championships beginning in 2026-27, its first full season of full Division I membership.

Back at the Show Me Center
The Redhawks return home after splitting a pair of road contests last week. Southeast Missouri dropped a close 87-82 decision at UT Martin (Jan. 5) before regrouping to grab a 74-68 win at Little Rock (Jan. 7). SEMO will be at home for four of its next five games.

SEMO Ties
Fourth-year Lindenwood Head Coach Kyle Gerdeman and Assistant Coach Anthony Beane have connections to Southeast Missouri. Both were previously assistant coaches with the Redhawks earlier in their careers. Gerdeman joined the Lions from Central Michigan where he worked seven seasons as an assistant coach. Beane was head coach at Three Rivers College for one year prior to Lindenwood.

Nice Road Win
The Redhawks snapped a seven-game road losing streak with their recent 74-68 win at Little Rock (Jan. 7). It was Southeast Missouri's first true road victory since it beat Evansville, 67-61, on Nov. 16. SEMO improved to 3-7 in true road games and 4-8 outside of Cape Girardeau this season.

Last Time at Home
The Redhawks are at the Show Me Center for the first time in the New Year when they host Lindenwood Thursday. Southeast Missouri put an end to a season-long eight game losing streak with a strong 82-73 win over then-Ohio Valley Conference leader SIU Edwardsville (Dec. 31). SEMO will look to put together consecutive home wins for the second time in 2022-23.

Big Game Branson
Dylan Branson notched a career-high 19 points to lead Southeast Missouri in its win at Little Rock (Jan. 7), SEMO's first meeting with the Trojans in over 20 years. Branson shot 7-of-12 from the field and scored 11 of his points in the second half. It was his third double-digit effort in four games. Branson started four of the previous five contests for the Redhawks.

Advantage SEMO
Southeast Missouri won the battle of the boards, 39-35, at Little Rock (Jan. 7). SEMO had been outrebounded in six- straight games prior to that matchup. The Redhawks outrebounded their opponent seven times this year.

Russell Goes for 28 Points
Phillip Russell notched a season-high 28 points to lead Southeast Missouri against UT Martin (Jan. 5). Russell shot 9-of-20 from the field and made a career-high six 3-pointers. It was his team-high fifth 20-point effort this season. He enters the week ranked third in the Ohio Valley Conference with 16.4 points a game.

Cutting Down the Turnovers
Southeast Missouri turned the ball over a season-low seven times at UT Martin (Jan. 5). Before that, the Redhawks had just eight miscues vs. SIU Edwardsville (Dec. 29). The seven turnovers against the Skyhawks are the fewest SEMO had in a game in three years under Head Coach Brad Korn. The Redhawks averaged less than 10 turnovers (9.3) a game over their last three contests.

Harris is Rolling
Chris Harris moved to second on the team in scoring after pitching in 14 points vs. SIU Edwardsville (Dec. 31). Harris is now averaging 12.9 points per game through 16 games and 14 starts. He scored double figures in each of his last seven contests and leads the Redhawks with 46 career double-digit scoring games.

Winning the Second Half
For the ninth time this season, Southeast Missouri won the second half when it outscored Little Rock, 38-35, on Jan. 7. SEMO is 6-3 in games where it outscores its opponent in the final 20 minutes. The Redhawks 55 points at Southern Indiana (Dec. 29) are their most in a second half through 17 games this year.

10 or More 3-Pointers
The Redhawks matched a season-high 13 three-pointers in their 87-82 loss to UT Martin (Jan. 5). Southeast Missouri has made 10 or more 3-pointers in five games this year. SEMO is third in the Ohio Valley Conference with 144 threes through 17 games.

OVC Update
Southeast Missouri and Lindenwood are among six teams tied at 2-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play. SEMO and LU head into Thursday's matchup with identical 7-10 overall records, as well. SIU Edwardsville and Morehead State are presently tied for first in the standings with 3-1 marks. SEMO heads to Morehead State Saturday.

Battling Through It
Southeast Missouri played with a full roster just three times this season. SEMO had all 13 of its players active vs. SIU Edwardsville (Dec. 31), at Southern Indiana (Dec. 29) and at UT Martin (Jan. 5). The Redhawks were short-handed in 14 games this year, at times playing with three or more inactive players. SEMO also used seven different starting lineups.

3-Pointer Streaks
Chris Harris has made a 3-pointer in 18-straight games dating back to the 2021-22 season. Phillip Russell drained a 3-pointer in 17-straight contests. Russell leads Southeast Missouri with 39 three-pointers, while Harris follows with 32. Russell and Harris have accounted for 49.3 percent of SEMO's 144 threes this year.

Block Party
Kobe Clark is tied for second in the Ohio Valley Conference with 23 blocks in 17 games. Clark is averaging 1.3 swats per game and posted two or more on six occasions. He had a season-high five blocks vs. Boston (Nov. 26).

Rebounding Machine
Kobe Clark collected double-digit rebounds for the seventh time when he grabbed 10 at UT Martin (Jan. 5). Clark's season-high is 16 which came at Arkansas State (Dec. 14). He had 14 defensive rebounds in that game alone. Clark ranks third in the Ohio Valley Conference with nine boards per game. He also ranks 31st in the nation in total rebounds (153).

153 or More Rebounds
Kobe Clark is one of 32 players in the nation with 153 or more rebounds at this point in the season. Clark was the first Ohio Valley Conference player to reach the century mark in rebounds this year. St. John's' Joel Soriano leads the nation with 216 boards.

Starting Streak
Second-year point guard Phillip Russell has started 28 consecutive games. Russell missed only two starts since joining the Redhawks due to COVID protocols during the 2021-22 campaign. He has 47 career starts and is one of two Redhawks that started all 17 games this year.

Redhawks at Home
Southeast Missouri is 3-2 at the Show Me Center with wins over Lyon College (83-46, Nov. 12), William Woods (87-49, Nov. 22) and SIU Edwardsville (82-73, Dec. 31), and losses to Purdue Fort Wayne (89-68, Dec. 7) and Southern Illinois (70-68, Dec. 21) this year. SEMO scored over 80 points in four of its five home contests.

How May I Assist You?
Phillip Russell matched a career-high eight assists vs. William Woods (Nov. 22). Russell has a total of 171 assists in his career and ranks second in the Ohio Valley Conference with 4.5 per game this season. He has a total of 76 assists through 17 games. Russell finished with six or more assists in five of his starts.