Patience is rewarded for SEMO MBB with home W

It took until the final hours of the calendar year, but the patience of third-year Southeast Missouri State men’s basketball coach Brad Korn was finally rewarded.

For just the second time this season, the Redhawks had a full complement of players (or as full as it can be expected to be anytime soon), and that health and depth showed, as Korn’s team knocked off SIU Edwardsville 82-73 on Saturday at the Show Me Center.

The victory snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Redhawks (6-9, 1-1 Ohio Valley Conference).

“It was frustrating,” Korn said of the plague of injuries and illnesses, which played a significant role in the losing streak. “For the fans, the coaches, and the players. It was most frustrating for the ones trying to perform and win a basketball game and do it in the right way.

“I give our guys a lot of credit.”

The Cougars (10-5, 1-1) have the most wins of any OVC team this season, but SEMO led throughout the entire game, as four players scored in double figures and two more had nine and eight points, respectively.

“That stretch of losing,” Korn continued, “it’s not easy for anybody to think about the adversity that you have in that time of injuries and illnesses and everything else.

“So, to come back and play the way that we did, I knew that we were capable of that.”

Of the 13 players available for SEMO this season, only three (Phillip Russell, Kobe Clark, and Nate Johnson) have participated in every game.

On Saturday, Johnson played a pivotal role early, while Russell did so late in the win.

Johnson, a 6-foot-9, senior center, only grabbed one rebound, but he totaled nine points in 16 minutes, which was the most offensive production he has had against NCAA Division I competition this season.

“I thought the way that he started the game,” Korn said of Johnson, “he attacked the rim. He got a dunk, and he was a presence in the paint, which we have to have.”

In Thursday’s road loss at Southern Indiana, the Screaming Eagles center had 27 points and grabbed 26 rebounds, and Korn was not happy with how Johnson, and his backup, junior center Josh Earley, performed in that game.

“They took hard coaching over the last couple of days,” Korn said of the two post players. “They got over themselves and came out here and performed.”

Earley finished with 12 points and grabbed five rebounds in 23 minutes.

On multiple occasions, the Redhawks led by as many as 10 points in the second half, however, SIUE cut its deficit to as few as four in the final minute.

Unlike against Southern Indiana, where SEMO missed 14 free throws in a five-point loss, it made 21 of 28 on Saturday, including Russell sinking all six of his attempts to help seal the win.

Russell had a team-best 19 points, but even more impressive were his seven assists, and just one turnover (which came with 14 seconds left in the game).

“That is phenomenal,” Korn said, “on top of the scoring. He played a great game. He controlled the game.

“Phil has that ability, and it is a heavy burden. In every game and on every scouting report, the coach is on you every play.”

Sophomore forward Dylan Branson scored a career-high 14 points while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out three assists.

“Big-time players played well, like Phil,” Korn said. “Dylan had a big game. You can just go down the line, and that is what good teams do.”

That is what healthy teams do.

Clark pulled down 10 rebounds, while Chris Harris chipped in 14 points and freshman shooter Adam Larson had eight off the bench.

“That is what good victories are,” Korn said. “You get points in a lot of different situations and scenarios.”

SEMO will travel to UT Martin (9-6, 1-1) on Thursday at 8 p.m. (ESPN+).