Southeast Missouri (13-12, 8-4 OVC) at Tennessee State (14-11, 6-6 OVC)

Game Information
Date: Thursday, February 9, 2023
Tip-Off: 8 p.m., CT
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Facility: Gentry Center (9,100)
Series: TSU leads, 29-27
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (38-46 overall; 38-46 at SEMO; 25-24 OVC). Brian "Penny" Collins (60-83 overall; 60-83 at TSU; 32-54 OVC).

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

Off to the Music City
Southeast Missouri (13-12, 8-4) heads to the Music City for a matchup with Tennessee State (14-11, 6-6) Thursday. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m., CT at the Gentry 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 TSUTigers.com and Twitter updates will be provided @SEMOMBB.

Series History
Tennessee State holds a 29-27 lead in the all-time series between the teams. Southeast Missouri won five of the last six games of the series. SEMO goes for a sweep of TSU after beating the Tigers, 92-75, in Cape Girardeau on Jan. 26. The Redhawks eliminated TSU from the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament with a 79-55 victory a year ago.

Harris Approaching 1,000 Points
Chris Harris, Southeast Missouri's second-leading scorer with 14 points per game this season, is 41 away from reaching 1,000 in his career. Harris presently has 959 points and an 11.7 ppg average as a Redhawk. If he accomplishes the feat, Harris will become the 25th member of SEMO's 1,000-point club.

OVC Leading Scorer
Southeast Missouri now has the top scorer in the Ohio Valley Conference. Phillip Russell moved to first in the league in scoring with 19.2 points per game. Russell has scored a total of 460 points so far this season. He scored double figures in 23 of his 24 starts. Along the way, Russell scored over 20 points nine times and 30 or more points on three occasions in the last six games alone.

37 Again
For the second time this season, Phillip Russell tied Southeast Missouri's NCAA Division I single-game record when he poured in 37 points at Tennessee Tech (Feb. 4). Russell is one of only six players in the nation to score 37 or more points in a game twice. Drew Pember (UNC Asheville), Jalen Cone (Northern Arizona), Antoine Davis (Detroit Mercy), Josh Cohen (Saint Francis) and James Bishop (George Washington) are the others.

Second OVC Player of the Week Honor 
Phillip Russell picked up his second Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honor on Feb. 6. A native of St. Louis, Russell had another huge week, this time averaging 33 points and nine assists in two games. He started the week by scoring 37 points in a 99-98 win over Little Rock (Feb. 2) to tie SEMO's NCAA Division I single-game scoring record for the second time this year. Russell made 9-of-16 field goals, made four 3-pointers and made 15-of-18 free throws to go along with a career-high 10 assists against the Trojans. Two days later, he scored 29 points, including 22 in the second half at Tennessee Tech (Feb. 4). Russell had eight assists, buried four 3-pointers and made 9-of-10 field goals. In addition, he made three free throws to tie the game with five seconds left against the Golden Eagles. Lindenwood's Keenon Cole (Newcomer) and Tommie Williams (Co-Freshman), and Eastern Illinois' Cameron Haffner (Co-Freshman) rounded out the week's honorees.

Comeback Bid Falls Short at Tennessee Tech
Southeast Missouri trailed by 17 points with 15:46 left to play in the second half before coming all the way back to tie it game at Tennessee Tech (Feb. 4). Phillip Russell was fouled behind the 3-point line and made three free throws to tie the game at 80-80 with five seconds remaining. Brett Thompson, who fouled Russell on the play, then made the game-winning shot at the buzzer.

Close Games
The Redhawks last two games were decided by a combined three points. Southeast Missouri edged Little Rock, 99-98, on Feb. 2 and lost at the buzzer, 82-80, at Tennessee Tech (Feb. 4). SEMO has been involved in five games this season decided by four or less points. The Redhawks are 2-3 in those contests.

How Sweep it Is
The Redhawks chalked up their first series sweep of an Ohio Valley Conference opponent when they outlasted Little Rock in a high scoring 99-98 affair on Feb. 2. Southeast Missouri also defeated the Trojans, 74-68, in Little Rock on Jan. 7. SEMO goes for its second season sweep when it faces Tennessee State Thursday. The Redhawks beat the Tigers, 92-75, on Jan. 26 at the Show Me Center.

Redhawks Second in the OVC 
Following its buzzer-beating loss to Tennessee Tech (Feb. 4), Southeast Missouri dropped to second in the Ohio Valley Conference standings. SEMO is one game behind Morehead State. After Thursday's matchup at Tennessee State, the Redhawks return home to host Morehead State Saturday.

He Did That Twice?!!
For the second time this season, Phillip Russell tied Southeast Missouri's NCAA Division I single-game scoring record of 37 points. Russell recently dropped in 37 points and had a career-high 10 assists for only the second double- double of his career vs. Little Rock (Feb. 2). He shot 9-of-16 from the field, buried four 3-pointers and made 15-of-18 free throws. Russell averaged a point per minute in his 37 minutes of action.

30-Point Threat
Phillip Russell scored 30 or more points for an Ohio Valley Conference high third time this season when he finished with 37 against Little Rock (Feb. 2). Russell has scored 30 or more in three of his last six starts. He also dropped in 37 at Morehead State (Jan. 14) and 30 vs. Tennessee State (Jan. 26). Russell scored 30 or more points a total of four times in his career.

Scoring in Bunches
Phillip Russell scored over 20 points a total of nine times this season. Three of his starts resulted in 30 or more points. Russell scored double figures in 23 of his 24 games. He has fifteen 20-plus point games in his career. Additionally, Russell registered the first point-assist double-double of his career with 37 points and 10 assists vs. Little Rock (Feb. 2). Overall, it was his second double-double in a Redhawk uniform.

8-4 in the OVC
Southeast Missouri is 8-4 with six games left this season. The Redhawks are working toward a winning record in OVC play for the first time since 2016-17 (9-7). SEMO is 25-24 in league play with Korn at the helm.

Late Season Surge
With six games left in its Ohio Valley Conference season, Southeast Missouri is in the middle of a strong surge. SEMO has heated up to win eight of its last 11 games. Two more victories will secure the Redhawks first OVC winning record since 2016-17 (9-7).

What's Left
After Thursday's contest, Southeast Missouri returns home tohost Morehead State (Feb. 11), Eastern Illinois (Feb. 16) and Southern Indiana (Feb. 18) in their final home games before closing out the regular-season at Lindenwood (Feb. 23) and SIU Edwardsville (Feb. 25).

On the Road
Southeast Missouri has five true road wins this season. One more will give Brad Korn his most in a season as SEMO's head coach. The Redhawks won three of their last four on the road.

High Scoring Redhawks
The Redhawks scored 80 or more points in nine of their 12 Ohio Valley Conference games. Southeast Missouri surpassed 90 points in four of its last seven games with a 92-75 win over Tennessee State (Jan. 26), 94-71 win vs. Lindenwood (Jan. 12), 91-86 victory at Morehead State (Jan. 14) and a 99-98 win over Little Rock (Feb. 2). SEMO leads the OVC with 83.2 points per game and a +3.9 scoring margin in league play.

Top of the OVC
Southeast Missouri leads the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring (83.2 ppg), scoring margin (+3.8), field goal percentage (.466), blocks (3.9 bpg), turnover margin (+2.83) and assist/turnover ratio (1.3) in league games. SEMO scored over 80 points in nine of its OVC contests. The Redhawks are also forcing a league-high 15.2 turnovers a game in OVC action.

About Tennessee State
Tennessee State carries a three-game winning streak into Thursday's matchup with Southeast Missouri. TSU ranks third in the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring offense with 76.9 points per game. Jr. Clay is the OVC's second-leading scorer with 18.7 points per game behind Southeast Missouri's Phillip Russell. Clay is scoring 20.8 points a game in league play.

Harris is Rolling
Chris Harris is second on the team in scoring with 14 points per game through 24 games and 23 starts. He scored double figures in 14 of his last 15 contests and leads the Redhawks with 53 career double-digit scoring games.

Winning the Second Half
For the 15th time this season, Southeast Missouri won the second half when it outscored Tennessee Tech, 44-35, on Feb. 4. SEMO is 11-4 in games where it outscores its opponent in the final 20 minutes. The Redhawks 58 points vs. Little Rock are their most in a second half through 24 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 nine games this year. SEMO is third in the Ohio Valley Conference with 217 threes through 25 games. The Redhawks' 217 threes rank as eighth-most in a season in program history.