Little Rock (16-11, 10-4 OVC) vs. Southeast Missouri (8-19, 3-11 OVC)
Game Information
Date: Saturday, February 22, 2024
Tip-Off: 7 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Facility: Show Me Center (7,000)
Series: LR leads, 4-3
Head Coaches: Brad Korn (52-70 Overall; 52-70 at SEMO; 30-39 OVC). Darrell Walker (122-113 Overall; 77-96 at LR; 46-56 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 Little Rock
Southeast Missouri (8-19, 3-11) plays host to Little Rock (16-11, 10-4) Thursday. Tip-off is set for 7 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
Little Rock holds a slight 4-3 edge in the all-time series between the teams. LR won the first matchup with Southeast Missouri, 66-61, on Jan. 27 in Little Rock. SEMO beat the Trojans in two of the last three contests of the series.
Final Home Games
The Redhawks play their final home games of the season this week. After Thursday's meeting with Little Rock, Southeast Missouri welcomes UT Martin for its Senior Day. Dylan Branson, Josh Earley and Aquan Smart will be recognized prior to Saturday's home finale.
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 began the month on a three- game homestand hosting Western Illinois (Feb. 3), Tennessee Tech (Feb. 8) and Tennessee State (Feb. 10) over that period. SEMO is 1-4 in February.
Redhawks Drop Two on the Road
Southeast Missouri dropped both games during its Illinois road trip last week. SEMO fell to Eastern Illinois, 75-57, on Feb. 15 and SIU Edwardsville, 80-76, on Feb. 17. The Redhawks wrap up their 2023-24 regular-season on the road at Morehead State (Feb. 29) and Southern Indiana (Mar. 2).
Bell Named OVC Freshman of the Week
Southeast Missouri guard Marqueas Bell was a unanimous pick for Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week on Feb. 19. A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Bell scored double figures in two games to lead SEMO last week. He had 17 points in 26 minutes off the bench at Eastern Illinois (Feb. 15) and turned around to pitch in a season-high 18 during his first career start at SIU Edwardsville (Feb. 17). For the week, Bell shot 61.9 percent (13-of-21) from the field, made 3-of-4 three-pointers and did not miss a free throw (6-of-6). He also grabbed eight rebounds, dished out four assists added four steals. It is the first OVC weekly honor of Bell's career. UT Martin's Jacob Crews won the league's Player and Newcomer of the Week awards this week.
Freshmen Get First Starts
Freshmen guards BJ Ward and Marqueas Bell logged their first career starts at SIU Edwardsville (Feb. 17). Ward played 13 minutes and Bell scored a team-high 18 points in 26 minutes. He also added three rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. Ward and Bell were part of Southeast Missouri's ninth different lineup combination this season.
Martin Closing in on 100 Assists
Rob Martin needs just two more assists to reach 100 this season. Martin ranks fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference with 98 assists. He recently dished out a season-best nine assists at SIU Edwardsville (Feb. 17).
Where They Stand
The Redhawks enter Thursday's game at 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference standings. Little Rock carries a five-game winning streak to Cape Girardeau and is in a three-way tie for second in the league behind Morehead State (11-3). LR, UT Martin and Western Illinois are all 10-4.
Redhawks at Home
All eight of Southeast Missouri's wins have come at the Show Me Center in 2023-24. SEMO is 8-5 on its homecourt. The Redhawks had a five-game home winning streak that ended against Morehead State (83-64, Dec. 31). Four of SEMO's home victories were against non-Division I teams. The Redhawks are 3-4 in OVC play at home.
3-Pointer Streak
As a team, Southeast Missouri has made at least one 3-pointer in 486 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 Little Rock
Little Rock has heated up to win six of its last seven games. The Trojans beat all three teams (Morehead State, UT Martin, Western Illinois) ahead of them in the Ohio Valley Conference standings during that stretch. LR currently in a three-way tie for second in the league with UTM and WIU. All three have 10-4 conference records. The Trojans are second in the OVC in scoring with 77.2 points a game and 10th in scoring defense allowing 74.7 points per contest. KK Robinson (15.9 ppg) and Jamir Chaplin (15.7 ppg) are sixth and eighth in the OVC in scoring, respectively.
