Little Rock (7-16, 3-7 OVC) vs. Southeast Missouri (12-11, 7-3 OVC)
Game Information
Date: Thursday, February 2, 2023
Tip-Off: 7 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Facility: Show Me Center (7,000)
Series: SEMO leads, 3-2
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (37-45 overall; 37-45 at SEMO; 24-23 OVC). Darrell Walker (103-98 overall; 58-80 at LR; 3-7 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 Welcome Little Rock
Southeast Missouri (12-11, 7-3) welcomes first-year Ohio Valley Conference member Little Rock (7-16, 3-7) 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 SEMORedhawks.com/Tickets.
Series History
Southeast Missouri and Little Rock meet for the sixth time and second this season Thursday. Little Rock holds a slight 3-2 edge in the all-time series. SEMO goes for a sweep of the Trojans after winning in Little Rock, 74-68, on Jan. 7. Little Rock makes its first trip to Cape Girardeau in 22 years.
What a Month!
The Redhawks recently wrapped up January with a 6-2 record after taking down Eastern Illinois (Jan. 28), 79-68, on the road. Southeast Missouri's strong January push put the Redhawks in a first-place tie at the top of the Ohio Valley Conference standings. SEMO scored over 80 points five times and went 3-1 on the road in January contests. It is the best January record in three years under Head Coach Brad Korn. SEMO has finished with a .500 or winning record in January each of Korn's first three seasons as the Redhawks head coach.
Three-Way Jam
What was once a six-way tie for first in the Ohio Valley Conference is now down to three and Southeast Missouri remains a part of the tight race. SEMO enters the week tied for first with UT Martin and Morehead State. All three teams have identical 7-3 records in league play. The Redhawks dropped two games to UTM and beat Morehead State on the road this year.
Late Season Surge
With eight games left in its Ohio Valley Conference season, Southeast Missouri is in the middle of a strong surge. SEMO is on a three-game winning streak and has heated up to win seven of its last nine games. Three more victories will secure the Redhawks first OVC winning record since 2016-17 (9-7).
What's Left
After Thursday's contest, Southeast Missouri hits the road to face Tennessee Tech (Feb. 4) and Tennessee State (Feb. 9). The Redhawks then host Morehead State (Feb. 11), Eastern Illinois (Feb. 16) and Southern Indiana (Feb. 18) before closing out the regular- season at Lindenwood (Feb. 23) and SIU Edwardsville (Feb. 25). USI (6-4), TTU (6-4) and SIUE (5-5) are close behind SEMO in the standings.
Another Road Win
Southeast Missouri picked up its third- straight road win with a 79-68 victory at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 28). SEMO won three-straight Ohio Valley Conference road games for the first time since 2012-13. The Redhawks now have five true road wins this season. One more will give Brad Korn his most in a season as SEMO's head coach.
Big Week for Russell Again
Phillip Russell put together a strong week once again leading Southeast Missouri to a pair of wins. Russell averaged 24.5 points and 7.5 assists to guide the Redhawks to victories over Tennessee State (Jan. 26) and Eastern Illinois (Jan. 28). He scored 30 points, shot 8-of-15 from the field, buried four 3-pointers and finshed with a season-high nine assists to help SEMO overcome an early 16-point deficit against the Tigers. Two days later, Russell led the Redhawks with 19 points at EIU. For the week, he shot 52.7 percent (12-of-23) from the field, made seven 3-pointers, shot 85.7 percent (18-of-21) at the free throw line and dished out 15 assists.
Russell Clears 200 Career Assists
Phillip Russell went over 200 assists in his career against Eastern Illinois (Jan. 28). Russell officially reached the mark with his third assist of the game at the 11:00 mark in the first half. He averaged 7.5 assists in two starts last week. Russell has 204 a assists in his career.
Balanced Scoring
Southeast Missouri put four players in double figures at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 28). Phillip Russell led the way with 19 points, while Israel Barnes and Adam Larson followed with 11 and Josh Earley chipped in 10. Barnes, Larson and Earley accounted for all 32 of SEMO's points off the bench. It was the 17th time this season where three or more Redhawks scored double figures.
Big Lift Larson
Adam Larson drained three 3-pointers and had three blocks in his recent 11-point effort at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 28). Larson finished with four field goals made in 21 minutes. He scored double figures for the fifth time this year.
7-3 in the OVC
Southeast Missouri is 7-3 with eight games to go in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Redhawks are working to get a winning record in OVC play for the first time since 2016-17 (9-7).
High Scoring Redhawks
The Redhawks scored over 80 points in seven of their 10 Ohio Valley Conference games. Southeast Missouri surpassed 90 points in three of its last five games with a 92-75 win over Tennessee State (Jan. 26), 94-71 win vs. Lindenwood (Jan. 12) and a 91-86 victory at Morehead State (Jan. 14). SEMO leads the OVC with 81.9 poins per game and a +4.8 scoring margin in league play.
Top of the OVC
Southeast Missouri leads the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring (81.9 ppg), scoring margin (+4.8), assists (15.7 apg) and turnover margin (+3.1) in league games. SEMO scored over 80 points in seven of its OVC contests. The Redhawks are also forcing 15.3 turnovers a game in OVC action.
About Little Rock
Little Rock comes to Cape Girardeau winners in two of its last three games. The Trojans recently beat Tennessee State (Jan. 21) and Tennessee Tech (Jan. 28) in that stretch. LR's win over TSU ended a season-long six-game losing streak. Myron Gardner averages 13.7 points per game to lead three players in double figures for the Trojans. LR is last in the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring defense (78.1 ppg allowed), scoring margin (-4.7), field goal percentage defense (.474), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.376) and blocks (48).
Russell Surpasses 100 Assists
Phillip Russell, who is tied for first in the Ohio Valley Conference with five assists per game, recently went over 100 this year. Russell has a league-high 109 assists and has dished out five or more a total of 11 times in 2022-23. He had a season-high nine assists vs. Tennessee State (Jan. 26) and averaged 7.5 in his last two games alone.
Harris is Rolling
Chris Harris is second on the team in scoring with 13.5 points per game through 22 games and 20 starts. He scored double figures in 12 of his last 13 contests contests and leads the Redhawks with 51 career double-digit scoring games.
Winning the Second Half
For the 13th time this season, Southeast Missouri won the second half when it outscored Eastern Illinois, 40-39, on Jan. 28. SEMO is 10-3 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 23 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 seven games this year. SEMO is third in the Ohio Valley Conference with 193 threes through 23 games.
Redhawks at Home
Southeast Missouri is 6-3 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), Tennessee Tech (84-77 2 OT, Jan. 21) and Tennessee State (92-75, Jan. 26), 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 seven of its nine home contests.
