Coke Zero Sugar Classic

Southeast Missouri (1-3) vs. Evansville (5-0)
Date: Saturday, November 25, 2023
Tip-Off: 1 p.m., CT
Location: Chattanooga, Tenn.
Facility: McKenzie Arena (10,995)
Series: UE leads, 13-8
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (45-54 Overall; 45-54 at SEMO; 27-28 OVC). David Ragland (9-27 Overall; 9-27 at UE).

Southeast Missouri (1-3) at Chattanooga (4-1)
Date: Sunday, November 26, 2023
Tip-Off: 1 p.m., CT
Location: Chattanooga, Tenn.
Facility: McKenzie Arena (10,995)
Series: SEMO leads, 2-0
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (45-54 Overall; 44-54 at SEMO; 27-28 OVC). Dan Earl (95-155 Overall; 22-16 at UTC).

Follow the Redhawks
Radio: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
Video: ESPN+ (SEMO vs. Chattanooga Only)
Live Stats: GoMocs.com
Twitter: @SEMOMBB
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri (PDF)

Redhawks Participate in Coke Zero Sugar Classic Thanksgiving Weekend
Southeast Missouri (1-3) will play two games at the Coke Zero Sugar Classic this weekend. SEMO faces Evansville (5-0) Saturday and tournament host Chattanooga (4-1) Sunday. Both games will tip at 1 p.m., CT.

Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen live on the radio at Real Rock 99.3 FM. Erik Sean will be on the call. Video for SEMO's game against Chattanooga can be accessed online at ESPN+. Live stats are available at GoMocs.com. Updates will be provided on X (formerly Twitter) @SEMOMBB.

Series Histories
Southeast Missouri is 8-13 all-time against Evansville and 2-0 versus Chattanooga. SEMO faces the Purple Aces for the second time this season. The Redhawks fell to Evansville in the first matchup, 76-57, on Nov. 15 in Cape Girardeau. SEMO plays Chattanooga for the first time in five years. The Redhawks beat the Mocs, 63-42, at the Goldie and Herman Ungar Classic on Nov. 17, 2018 in Mobile, Alabama.

Tournament Play
The Redhawks participate in their fourth multi-team event under Head Coach Brad Korn. Southeast Missouri is 3-4 all-time during in-season tournament play with Korn at the helm. SEMO went 1-0 at the Negro League Baseball Museum Tip-Off Classic (Kansas City, Mo.) in 2020-21, 1-2 at the Incarnate Word Thanksgiving Classic (San Antonio, Texas) in 2021-22 and 1-2 at the Cream City Classic (Milwaukee, Wis.) in 2022-23.

Redhawks Get First Win
Southeast Missouri picked up its first win of the season with a 70-68 come-from- behind victory over Central Arkansas (Nov. 20). SEMO overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half and won the game on a baseline jumper by Aquan Smart with seven seconds left. Smart hit his game-winner with one second remaining on the shot clock, as well.

Chattanooga Tournament
The Redhawks will be in Chattanooga, Tennessee for a tournament for the second time in their program history. Southeast Missouri last played in the CBE Classic during the 2012-13 season. The Redhawks went 1-2 in that event with a 77-65 win over Chattanooga and losses to Louisiana Tech (67-63) and Troy (59-56). The tournament was played Nov. 18-20 that season.

3-Pointer Streak
As a team, Southeast Missouri has made at least one 3-pointer in 463 consecutive games. The last time SEMO did not have a made 3-pointer was vs. Western Illinois (0-of-6) on Dec. 10, 2008.

Smart Sticks Winning Shot
Guard Aquan Smart drove to his right and buried a baseline jumper with seven seconds left to give Southeast Missouri its first victory of the season vs. Central Arkansas (Nov. 20). Smart was 2-of-10 from the field before the decisive shot. He finished with nine points and five rebounds against the Bears.

Earley Establishes New Career-High 
Josh Earley scored a career-high 19 points in the Redhawks recent win over Central Arkansas (Nov. 20). Earley made a near- perfect 8-of-9 field goals and went 3-of-4 at the free throw line. He also grabbed seven rebounds and scored double figures for the second time in four starts this season.

Elkamil and Eursher Come Up Big 
Gavyn Elkamil and Evan Eursher each pitched in double figures off the bench to give Southeast Missouri a nice lift against Central Arkansas (Nov. 20). Elkamil scored 11 points for his first double-digit game as a Redhawk. Eursher followed close behind with 10 points and a career-best six rebounds. Elkamil made two-straight 3-pointers to get SEMO within three late in the second half. Eursher then buried a pair of 3-pointers with his second giving the Redhawks a one-point lead with 1:23 to go. Elkamil (3) and Eursher (2) combined for five of SEMO's six 3-pointers in the contest.

Ward Second in the OVC in Assists 
Freshman BJ Ward enters the weekend ranked second in the Ohio Valley Conference with 14 assists. Ward is averaging 4.6 assists per game. He is also second in the nation in assist/turnover ratio with his 14 assists and only one turnover.

Coming Up on 50
Adam Larson is approaching 50 three- pointers made in his career. Larson enters Monday's game against Central Arkansas with 46 career 3-pointers made.

Redhawks Third in the OVC in Steals 
Southeast Missouri ranks third in the Ohio Valley Conference in steals (7.0 spg). Josh Earley has a team-high six steals and BJ Ward and Braxton Stacker have five apiece.

Coke Zero Sugar Classic Field
Evansville defeated Chattanooga in the opening game of the Coke Zero Sugar Classic Friday. UE is the only undefeated team in the event with a 5-0 record. The Mocs are now 4-1 on the season. UE leads the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring defense allowing just 54.2 points per game and leads the league in scoring margin at a big +30.25 mark. Ben Humrichous leads the Purple Aces with 14.7 points per game. Chattanooga, like Evansville, also leads its conference in both scoring defense and scoring margin. The Mocs are giving up 60.5 points per game and outscoring opponents by a +17 margin in the Southern Conference. Honor Huff leads Chattanooga and ranks sixth in the Southern Conference with 16.5 points a game.

Up Next
Southeast Missouri wraps up its first month of the season when it visits Kansas City on Nov. 30.