Western Illinois (14-8, 7-2 OVC) vs. Southeast Missouri (7-15, 2-7 OVC)

Game Information
Date: Saturday, February 3, 2024
Tip-Off: 3:45 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Facility: Show Me Center (7,000)
Series: WIU leads, 7-6
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (51-66 Overall; 51-66 at SEMO; 29-35 OVC). Chad Boudreau (14-8 Overall; 14-8 at WIU; 7-2 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 Host Western Illinois 
Southeast Missouri (7-15, 2-7) plays host to Western Illinois (14-8, 7-2) during Hall of Fame Weekend Saturday. Tip-off is set for 3:45 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 online at ESPN+. Live stats are available at SEMORedhawks.com. Updates will be provided on X (formerly Twitter) @SEMOMBB.

Series History
Western Illinois holds a slight 7-6 edge in the overall series between the teams. WIU won the first meeting of this year's home-and-home series, 68-61, on Jan. 4 in Macomb.

Welcome to the Hall of Fame
Six individuals will be inducted into the Southeast Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2023 Class. Clemente Bonilla (Baseball, 1999-2002), Lori Chase (Women's Basketball, 1999- 2003), Blake Smith (Track & Field, 2012- 2015), Ryan Spille (Baseball, 1998-1999), Michelle Summers (Softball, 2005-2008) and Rick Wieser (Football, 1974-1975; Baseball, 1976) will be inducted during a special dinner and ceremony at the Show Me Center Friday. The class will then be recognized at halftime of Saturday's game against Western Illinois.

Schedule Flip
The Redhawks completed January with a 2-6 record and 1-6 mark in Ohio Valley Conference play. Southeast Missouri played five of its eight games in January on the road. That won't be the case in February, where SEMO will be at home for five of its eight games. The Redhawks are on a three-game home stand to begin the month hosting Western Illinois (Feb. 3), Tennessee Tech (Feb. 8) and Tennessee State (Feb. 10) over that period.

Road Trip is Over
Southeast Missouri is coming off a three-game road stretch and plays at home for the first time since Jan. 20. SEMO took losses at UT Martin (84-58, Jan. 25), Little Rock (66-61, Jan. 27) and Lindenwood (58-54, Jan. 30) during that span.

Looking to Get Back on Track 
Southeast Missouri is looking to end a three-game losing skid. SEMO enters Saturday's contest after dropping five of its last six matchups. The Redhawks picked up both of their wins in January at home.

Second Half of OVC
The Redhawks start the second half of their Ohio Valley Conference schedule against Western Illinois Saturday. Southeast Missouri will host WIU, Tennessee Tech (Feb. 8), Tennessee State (Feb. 10), Little Rock (Feb. 22) and UT Martin (Feb. 24), and make trips to Eastern Illinois (Feb. 15), SIU Edwardsville (Feb. 17), Morehead State (Feb. 29) and Southern Indiana (Mar. 2) during the final nine games of league action.

Last Time Out
In a game that ended with just 112 combined points and included 14 ties and nine lead changes, Southeast Missouri came up short in a low scoring 58-54 road loss to in-state rival Lindenwood (Jan. 30). With the win, LU completed a two-game sweep of the Redhawks this season. Keenon Cole made six of his 10 free throws in the final 20 seconds to seal the win for the Lions.

Earley Gets Double-Double
Josh Earley became the first Redhawk to get a double-double this season when he scored 19 points and pulled down 11 rebounds at Lindenwood (Jan. 30). Earley shot 7-of-11 from the field and 5-of-6 at the free throw line. It was the fourth double-double of his career.

OVC Update
Entering this week, Morehead State remains atop the Ohio Valley Conference standings with a 8-1 league mark. Western Illinois (7-2) is second, while SIU Edwardsville (6-3) and UT Martin (6-3) are tied for third. Tennessee State (5-4) and Little Rock (5-4) are tied in the next spot, while Eastern Illinois (4-5), Southern Indiana (3-6), Southeast Missouri (2-7), Tennessee Tech (2-7) and Lindenwood (2-8) round out the standings.

Earley Among Top Scorers in Conference Games
Josh Earley ranks among the Ohio Valley Conference's top scorers in league games only. Earley ranks 16th with 13.7 points per game in nine conference starts.

3-Pointer Streak
As a team, Southeast Missouri has made at least one 3-pointer in 481 consecutive games. The last time SEMO did not make a 3-pointer was vs. Western Illinois (0-of-6) on Dec. 10, 2008. The Redhawks kept that streak alive when they made their only 3-pointer of the game with less than a second left at Lindenwood (Jan. 30).

About Western Illinois
First-year Ohio Valley Conference member Western Illinois is second in the Ohio Valley Conference standings behind Morehead State. WIU is 14-8 overall and 7-2 in OVC play under first-year Head Coach Chad Boudreau. The Leathernecks have the league's second-best scoring defense allowing just 65.6 points a game. WIU also leads the conference in rebounding (42.9 rpg), offensive rebounds (14.7 rpg), and blocked shots (134). However, one of the Leathernecks' top weaknesses is at the free throw line where they are the worst shooting team in the OVC at 60.8 percent. WIU averages eight missed free throws a game. Drew Cisse tops the conference in rebounding (11.7 rpg) and blocks (2.1 bpg).