Southeast Missouri (6-10, 1-2 OVC) at Little Rock (5-11, 1-2 OVC)
Game Information
Date: Saturday, January 7, 2023
Tip-Off: 3:30 p.m., CT
Location: Little Rock, Ark.
Facility: Jack Stephens Center (5,600)
Series: LR leads, 3-1
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (31-44 overall; 31-44 at SEMO; 18-22 OVC). Darrell Walker (101-93 overall; 56-75 at LR; 1-2 OVC).
Follow the Redhawks
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: LRTrojans.com
Twitter: @SEMOMBB
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri (PDF)
On the Road Again
Southeast Missouri (6-10, 1-2) wraps up a two-game road swing at Little Rock (5-11, 1-2) Saturday. Tip is set for 3:30 p.m., CT at the Jack Stephens 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 LRTrojans.com and Twitter updates will be provided @SEMOMBB.
Series History
Southeast Missouri and Little Rock meet for the fifth time Saturday. These teams last faced each other over 20 years ago. Little Rock won that game by a score of 81-56 in Arkansas on Dec. 17, 2002. SEMO is 0-2 against the Trojans in Little Rock.
Welcome to the OVC
Little Rock officially joined the Ohio Valley Conference on July 1, 2022. LR, which sponsors 13 of the OVC's 19 championship sports, is only the 22nd full-time member in the 74-year history of the league. The Trojans were previously members of the Sun Belt Conference. Their basketball program has made five NCAA Tournament appearances with the last coming in 2016.
Temporary Court
Southeast Missouri and Little Rock will play on a temporary court inside the Jack Stephens Center. The Trojans will be on that for the remainder of the season following flooding from a burst AC coil. The court was used by Gonzaga and Michigan State onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Armed Forces Classic back in November. Little Rock is 4-1 at the Jack Stephens Center this season.
Redhawks End Skid
Southeast Missouri snapped a season-long eight-game losing streak with a big 82-73 win over then-Ohio Valley Conference leader SIU Edwardsville on Dec. 31. SEMO picked up its first win in December on the final day of 2022. It was the Redhawks first victory since they defeated Boston University, 63-52, in Milwaukee, Wisconson on Nov. 27. SEMO has dropped nine of its last 10 contests.
Redhawks Fall at UT Martin
The Redhawks trailed, 72-53, but came back to make it a two-point game in the final minute before falling to UT Martin, 87-82, Thursday. Phillip Russell buried a 3-pointer to make it an 84-82 contest with 45 seconds left. Southeast Missouri missed two 3-pointers in the last 12 seconds and UTM made three free throws down the stretch to hang on. Russell scored a season- high 28 points to lead the Redhawks.
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 weekend ranked third in the Ohio Valley Conference with 16.2 points a game.
Cutting Down the Turnovers
In its last two games, Southeast Missouri has committed only 15 turnovers. SEMO 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.
Late Comebacks Fall Short
Southeast Missouri nearly came back in close road losses at Southern Indiana (Dec. 29) and UT Martin (Jan. 5). Against USI, SEMO trailed by as many as 23 points, but outscored USI, 55-43, in the second half and got within five in the final seconds of its 86-81 setback. At UTM, the Redhawks were down, 72-53, with 8:51 remaining when they battle back to get within two with 45 seconds on the clock. That comeback, however, came up short too in another five-point loss (87-82).
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 12.7 points per game through 15 games and 13 starts. He scored double figures in each of his last six contests and leads the Redhawks with 45 career double-digit scoring games.
Winning the Second Half
For the eighth time this season, Southeast Missouri won the second half when it outscored UT Martin, 46-43, on Jan. 5. SEMO is 5-3 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 16 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 fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference with 138 threes through 16 games.
Redhawks on the Road
Southeast Missouri is on the road for three of its first four Ohio Valley Conference matchups. SEMO dropped its conference opener at Southern Indiana (86-81, Dec. 29) and fell to UT Martin (87-82, Jan. 5). The Redhawks are 3-8 and 2-7 (true road games) outside of Cape Girardeau this season.
OVC Update
Southeast Missouri (6-10) and Little Rock (5-11) are currently eighth and ninth in the Ohio Valley Conference standings, repectively. LR and Lindenwood have the most losses this season with 11 apiece. The Trojans enter Saturday's matchup following a 67-62 loss to the Lions, while the Redhawks are coming off an 87-82 setback at UT Martin.
40-Minute Win
For the third time this season, Southeast Missouri led for the entire game en route to victory. SEMO led from start to finish in its latest 82-73 win over SIU Edwarsville (Dec. 31). The Redhawks also led both Lyon College (Nov. 12) and William Woods (Nov. 22) for all 40 minutes of play.
Battling Through It
Southeast Missouri played with a full roster for the third time this season at UT Martin (Jan. 5). SEMO had all 13 of its players active against the Cougars and at Southern Indiana (Dec. 29). The Redhawks were short-handed through their first 13 games, at times playing with three or more inactive players. SEMO also used seven different starting lineups in that span.
3-Pointer Streaks
Chris Harris has made a 3-pointer in 17-straight games dating back to the 2021-22 season. Phillip Russell drained a 3-pointer in 16-straight games. Russell leads Southeast Missouri with 38 three-pointers, while Harris follows with 30. Russell and Harris have accounted for 49 percent of SEMO's 138 threes this year.
Block Party
Kobe Clark is tied for second in the Ohio Valley Conference with 21 blocks in 16 games. Clark is averaging 1.3 swats per game and posted two or more on five occasions. He had a season-high five blocks vs. Boston (Nov. 26).
Veteran Milestones
Chris Harris went over 100 three-pointers made and 200 rebounds in his career this season. Harris presently has 108 threes and 208 rebounds as a Redhawk. He just went over 200 career assists (202) at UT Martin (Jan. 5), as well.
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 9.2 boards per game. He also ranks 21st in the nation in total rebounds (147).
