Redhawks 'clear-minded, focused' in OVC road W

After losing nine of 10 games and leading the Ohio Valley Conference in technical fouls – by a lot – third-year Southeast Missouri State men’s basketball coach Brad Korn had a simplistic message for his team as it battled Little Rock on the road Saturday.

“If it didn’t involve winning,” Korn said after the game, “then don’t do it.”

SEMO did all of the necessary things that “involved winning,” as it beat the Trojans 74-68, nearly leading the entire game.

“We just played,” Korn said in a postgame radio interview. “We didn’t have to worry about anything else. We didn’t have to worry about what the other team was doing.

“Our guys were clear-minded and focused.”

No player exemplified that more so than sophomore guard Phillip Russell.

Russell entered Saturday’s game having as many or more technical fouls (eight) as five OVC teams did as entire squads, and he had committed 14 fouls in the previous three games combined. However, against Little Rock (5-12, 1-3 OVC), Russell played 36 minutes and committed just one foul.

“He was fantastic,” Korn said of Russell. “Phil was up to the challenge (in guarding Trojan guard D.J. Smith), he always is. He is the ultimate competitor.”

The Redhawks (7-10, 2-2) led by as many as 11 points in the opening half, despite missing 13 of 15 3-point shots.

“We got excellent looks offensively,” Korn said of the first half, “and Phil was a big part of that. He didn’t want to set himself up first, he got others involved.”

Russell did score 16 points, but he also passed out five assists and only turned the ball over twice.

“He’s got scoring ability and gets fouled a ton,” Korn said. “He played basketball today.”

The Trojans were 5-1 in Little Rock this season and battled SEMO until the final minute. However, the Redhawks overcame some poor shooting by being efficient (just 13 turnovers and committing 14 fouls).

“When we go out there and play,” Korn said, “our play speaks for itself. We don’t have to do anything else. I put on the board before the game to just enjoy this opportunity that you have.”

For the second time in three games, sophomore forward Dylan Branson set a career-high on offense. He hit 7 of 12 shots and finished with a team-best 19 points to go with four rebounds.

“Dylan is a tough kid,” Korn said. “He has a high IQ. He is a selfless player, but at the same time, he can have a night like he had tonight. That speaks to his ability.”

SEMO’s victory was all the more impressive, as Little Rock outrebounded the Redhawks (27-25), who missed 20 of 26 3-pointers, while the Trojans also sank 57 percent of their 3-pointers and 10 of 12 free throws.

The Redhawks were diligent on the offensive glass in grabbing 14 of those boards.

Graduate student guard Chris Harris matched Russell’s 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds, which tied senior center Nate Johnson for the team lead.

Johnson had eight points in the win, while sophomore forward Kobe Clark pulled down six boards.

The Redhawks will return to the Show Me Center on Thursday at 7 p.m., as they host Lindenwood (7-10, 2-2).