Tennessee State (11-10, 3-5 OVC) at Southeast Missouri (10-11, 5-3 OVC)
Game Information
Date: Thursday, January 26, 2023
Tip-Off: 7 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Facility: Show Me Center (7,000)
Series: TSU leads, 29-26
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (35-45 overall; 35-45 at SEMO; 22-23 OVC). Brian "Penny" Collins (57-82 overall; 57-82 at TSU; 29-53 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 Close Out Homestand
Southeast Missouri (10-11, 5-3), which is tied for first in the Ohio Valley Conference, wraps up a three-game homestand when it hosts Tennessee State (11-10, 3-5) Thursday. 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. For tickets, call (573) 651-2113 or visit online at SEMORedhawks.com/Tickets.
Series History
Tennessee State holds a 29-26 lead in the all-time series between the teams. Southeast Missouri won four of the last five games of the series. SEMO has beaten TSU in four of its last five trips to Cape Girardeau. The Redhawks eliminated TSU from the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament with a 79-55 victory a year ago.
Clark Out for Season
Forward Kobe Clark will miss the rest of the 2022-23 season with a knee injury. Clark initially suffered his season-ending injury during the second half of SEMO's game against UT Martin on Jan. 19. A native of St. Louis, Clark is the Redhawks top rebounder and shot blocker. He averaged 8.7 rebounds and accumulated 23 blocks in 19 games and 15 starts. Clark also ranked sixth on the team in scoring with 6.6 points per game and had 10 or more rebounds on seven occasions.
Leader Log Jam
Southeast Missouri is among six teams tied for first in the Ohio Valley Conference standings entering Thursday's matchups. SEMO, SIU Edwardsville, UT Martin, Morehead State, Southern Indiana and Tennessee Tech all have identical 5-3 conference records. The Redhawks beat SIUE, Morehead State and TTU so far this season.
On a Roll
The Redhawks have heated up to win five of their last seven games to get themselves into a share of the top spot in the Ohio Valley Conference standings. Southeast Missouri's only two losses during that stretch came against UT Martin (Jan. 5 and Jan. 19). SEMO is presently 1-1 in its current three-game homestand.
January Winds Down
Southeast Missouri concludes January with a home game vs. Tennessee State (Jan. 26) and road trip to Eastern Illinois (Jan. 28) this week. SEMO is 4-2 in January, currently its best month of the season. The Redhawks are averaging 80.8 points per game and have shot 45.6 percent (178-of-390) from the field in January games. Phillip Russell and Chris Harris have led the charge with 22 and 17.2 points per game, respectively, this month alone.
Redhawks Survive Double Overtime Thriller
The Redhawks, once ahead by 22 points, rallied late to pull off an 84-77 double overtime victory over then-Ohio Valley Conference co-leader Tennessee Tech (Jan. 21). Southeast Missouri scored the final six points of the second overtime period and outscored TTU, 14-7, in the last five minutes of the contest. It was the seventh time SEMO played an overtime game in three years under Head Coach Brad Korn. The Redhawks improved to 3-4 in those contests.
First Career Double-Double for Harris
Chris Harris matched career-high 23 points and pulled down a career-best 11 rebounds to lead Southeast Missouri to its win over Tennessee Tech (Jan. 21). Harris shot 8-of-17 from the field and made four 3-pointers in his second 20-point effort in three games. It was SEMO's third double-double of the season.
Russell is Back
Point guard and reigning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week Phillip Russell missed his first start of the season against UT Martin (Jan. 19). Russell did not play that game due to an ankle injury. He returned to score 13 points and finish
with eight assists vs. Tennessee Tech (Jan. 21). Russell scored double figures for the 19th time this year.
Branson on the Boards
Dylan Branson posted a career-high 12 rebounds in his latest start vs. Tennessee Tech (Jan. 21). Branson had six offensive rebounds, six points, four assists and three steals, as well.
Marginally Speaking
Southeast Missouri dominated Tennessee Tech on the glass and, as a result, matched its largest rebounding margin of the season at +17. SEMO outrebounded the Golden Eagles, 50-33, and held a 15-3 advantage on the offensive end. The 50 rebounds are the Redhawks most in a game this season and most since they outrebounded Eastern Illinois, 50-25, on Jan. 30, 2021.
5-3 in the OVC
Southeast Missouri hits the halfway point of its Ohio Valley Conference schedule when it faces Tennessee State Thursday. SEMO is 5-3 in league play with 10 games to go. The Redhawks are working to get a winning record in OVC play for the first time since 2016-17 (9-7).
Head-to-Head
Thursday's game between Southeast Missouri and Tennessee State will feature the top two scorers in the Ohio Valley Conference. TSU's Jr. Clay leads all scorers with 18.2 points per game and SEMO's Phillip Russell is close behind with 17.3. Both Clay and Phillips have gone over 30 points in a game once this season.
Russell Ties SEMO NCAA Division I Single-Game Record
Phillip Russell tied Southeast Missouri's NCAA Division I single-game scoring record when he dropped in 37 points at Morehead State (Jan. 14). Russell scored 22 points in the first half and added another 15 in the second half during that game. The 37 points are the most scored by an Ohio Valley Conference player this season. He tied Tyler Stone (37 points, at SIU Edwardsville, Feb. 6, 2014) for the program's top Division I single-game scoring mark.
High Scoring Redhawks
The Redhawks scored over 80 points in six of their eight Ohio Valley Conference games. Southeast Missouri surpassed 90 points in two of its last three games with a 94-71 win vs. Lindenwood (Jan. 12) and a 91-86 victory at Morehead State (Jan. 14). SEMO leads the OVC with 81 poins per game in league play.
Top of the OVC
Southeast Missouri leads the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring (81 ppg), and turnover margin (+2.8)in league games. SEMO scored over 80 points in six of its OVC contests. The Redhawks are also forcing 15 turnovers a game in OVC action.
About Tennessee State
Tennessee State comes to Cape Girardeau after losing four of its last six games. TSU split two games last week beating Eastern Illinois, 78-74, at home and falling to Little Rock, 89-77, on the road. Jr. Clay, who transferred to TSU from Tennessee Tech, is the Ohio Valley Conference's top scorer with 18.2 points per game. Clay recently scored 33 points and went over 2,000 points in his career against the Trojans. He was named OVC Co-Player of the Week this week. Clay has scored over 20 points eight times in 2022-23. TSU ranks second in the OVC in scoring with 77.5 points per game, but is ninth in scoring defense allowing 74.4 points per contest.
Climb to 100 Assists
Phillip Russell leads Southeast Missouri and the Ohio Valley Conference in assists this season. Russell has 94 assists for an average of 4.7 per game. He needs just six more to reach 100 this year. Russell dished out five or more assists nine times in 2022-23. He tied his season-high of eight assists vs. Tennessee Tech (Jan. 21).
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 averaging 14.1 points per game through 20 games and 18 starts. He scored double figures in each of his last 11 contests and leads the Redhawks with 50 career double-digit scoring games.
3-Pointer Streaks
Chris Harris has made a 3-pointer in 22-straight games dating back to the 2021-22 season. Phillip Russell drained a 3-pointer in 20-straight contests. Russell leads Southeast Missouri with 49 three-pointers, while Harris follows with 40. Russell and Harris have accounted for 50.8 percent of SEMO's 175 made threes this year.
Redhawks at Home
Southeast Missouri is 5-3 at the Show Me Center with wins over Lyon College (83-46, Nov. 12), William Woods (87-49, Nov. 22), SIU Edwardsville (82-73, Dec. 31), Lindenwood (94-71, Jan. 12) and Tennessee Tech (84-77 2OT, Jan. 21), and losses to Purdue Fort Wayne (89-68, Dec. 7), Southern Illinois (70-68, Dec. 21) and UT Martin (80-60, Jan. 19) this year. SEMO scored over 80 points in six of its eight home contests.
