Southeast Missouri (4-7) at Illinois State (7-4)

Game Information
Date: Thursday, December 21, 2023
Tip-Off: 7 p.m., CT
Location: Normal, Ill.
Facility: CEFCU Arena (10,200)
Series: ISU leads, 6-1
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (48-58 Overall; 48-58 at SEMO; 27-28 OVC). Ryan Pedon (18-25 Overall; 18-25 at ISU; 8-14 MVC).

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

Redhawks Travel to Illinois State 
Southeast Missouri (4-7) travels to Missouri Valley Conference foe Illinois State (7-4) for its final game before Christmas Thursday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., CT at CEFCU Arena.

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 online at ESPN+. Live stats are available at GoRedbirds.com. Updates will be provided on X (formerly Twitter) @SEMOMBB.

Series History
Southeast Missouri and Illinois State hook up for the eighth time in 2023-24. ISU leads the all-time series by a count of 6-1. SEMO's only victory in the series came on Feb. 26, 1969 (114-102) in Cape Girardeau. The Redhawks are 0-6 all-time in Normal, Illinois. It's been 14 years since SEMO and ISU last met. The Redbirds won that game, 93-53, on Nov. 28, 2009 in Normal.

Another Missouri Valley Opponent 
Illinois State is the second Missouri Valley Conference opponent on Southeast Missouri's schedule this season. SEMO dropped two games to Evansville (Nov. 15, Nov. 25) in November.

Against the Missouri Valley
Southeast Missouri is 134-278 all-time against the Missouri Valley Conference. SEMO has played Missouri State (147 games) and Southern Illinois (120 games) the most out of the Valley.
vs. Southern Illinois .........................................46-74
vs. Drake ..................................................................... 0-2
vs. Evansville..........................................................8-14
vs. Bradley................................................................2-10
vs. Illinois State ........................................................1-6
vs. Indiana State......................................................1-3
vs. Missouri State .............................................55-92
vs. Murray State ................................................ 21-65
vs. Belmont..............................................................0-12

Three of Four
The Redhawks have won three of their four games in December. All three of Southeast Missouri's December victories came against non-Division I teams (Missouri Baptist, Harris-Stowe, Lindsey Wilson). SEMO scored 80 or more points in all of its games this month.

Merry Christmas
Southeast Missouri takes the court for the final time before the Christmas holiday Thursday. After its matchup with Illinois State, SEMO will be off for eight days prior to the start of Ohio Valley Conference play. The Redhawks open their 18-game league slate against Southern Indiana at home on Dec. 29.

Branson Make Season Debut
After missing the first 10 games of the season due to a broken foot injury, Dylan Branson played for the first time against Lindsey Wilson (Dec. 17). Branson had two points, four rebounds and four assists in 14 minutes off the bench.

Smart Does it Again
Aquan Smart scored double figures for the fifth-straight time when he dropped in 18 against Lindsey Wilson (Dec. 17). Smart also pulled down seven rebounds and dished out five assists in that game. He enters the week as Southeast Missouri's third-leading scorer with 9.5 points per contest.

Top Redhawk
Rob Martin is Southeast Missouri's top scorer for the first time this season. Martin, who averages 10.6 points per game, has scored double-digits in four-straight games and five of his last six starts. He leads the Redhawks in assists (37) and minutes played (29.9 mpg), as well.

On the Road Again
The Redhawks will be on the road for the seventh time this season at Illinois State. SEMO is currently 0-6 away from Cape Girardeau. Southeast Missouri dropped nine-straight true road games dating back to 2022-23. SEMO's last true road victory was at Eastern Illinois (79-68) on Jan. 28, 2023.

Hanback On Target
Reserve center Mason Hanback is shooting 77.8 percent from the field in nine games off the bench this year. Hanback is 14-of-18 from the floor and has scored in seven-straight games for the Redhawks.

Much Better Shooting
The Redhawks shot a season-high 56.1 percent from the field in their latest victory over Lindsey Wilson (Dec. 17). Southeast Missouri made 32-of-57 from the field in that game. SEMO has shot 50 percent or better in three-straight games. It was the Redhawks highest field goal percentage in a non-conference game since they shot 57.1 percent (32-of-56) during the 2021-22 season-opener at Missouri State (Nov. 9, 2021).

Scoring Increasing
After averaging just 60.6 points per game through its first seven contests of the season, Southeast Missouri scored an average of 86.5 in its last four games. SEMO outscored its opponents by a combined 346-249, winning by
28 (84-56, vs. Missouri Baptist) and 50 (95-45, vs. Harris-Stowe) points, respectively. The Redhawks also fell to Purdue Fort Wayne, 89-80, before turning around to beat Lindsey Wilson, 87-59, in that stretch. SEMO pushed its scoring average up 9.4 points to 70 per game during that burst.

Martin Fifth in OVC in Assist/Turnover Ratio
Rob Martin ranks fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference in assist/turnover ratio. Martin leads the Redhawks with 37 assists and has turned the ball over 23 times for a 1.6 ratio. He dished out a season-high five assists on four occasions this year.

Larson Plays Strong
Adam Larson is the Redhawks second- leading scorer with 10.4 points per game through 11 contests. Larson scored a career-high 22 points and made a career-best six 3-pointers vs. Evansville (Nov. 25). A day later, he led the Redhawks with 13 points and hit four more threes at Chattanooga (Nov. 26). Larson started eight-straight games and leads the team with six double-digit scoring performances.

3-Point Threat
Adam Larson ranks seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference in 3-point field goals made. Larson is shooting 41 percent on 25-of-61 from beyond the arc. He made 10 of those 3-pointers in two games at the Coke Zero Sugar Classic (Nov. 25-26). Larson buried a career-high six treys vs. Evansville (Nov. 25), falling just three shy of tying his program's single-game record in made threes. Larson drained three or more 3-pointers in five games this season.

3-Pointer Streak
As a team, Southeast Missouri has made at least one 3-pointer in 470 consecutive games. The last time SEMO did not make a 3-pointer was vs. Western Illinois (0-of-6) on Dec. 10, 2008.

About Illinois State
Illinois State, picked eighth in this year's Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll is 7-4 overall and 2-0 in league play so far. ISU is one of four teams tied at the top of the MVC standings early in conference action. The Redbirds boast the Valley's second-best scoring defense allowing just 65.5 points per game this season. Meanwhile, ISU is last in the league in scoring offense putting up only 67 per contest. Darius Burford and Dalton Banks lead the Redbirds with 12.9 and 11.2 points a game, respectively. Ryan Pedon is in his second year as head coach at ISU.