SEMO MBB to face tough task in OVC road test

Moments following his team’s recent 93-91 overtime victory against Southern Indiana, fourth-year Southeast Missouri State men’s basketball coach Brad Korn clearly stated just how difficult what his group had just done was to do.

“We talked about it in the locker room,” Korn said, “about just how hard it is to win in college basketball.”

The task doesn’t get any easier tonight for Korn’s team.

The Redhawks (5-9, 1-1 Ohio Valley Conference) will venture out on the road to Macomb, Ill. to battle new OVC member Western Illinois (8-6, 1-0), which is, along with Morehead State, the hottest team in the conference at this point.

The tip will be at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+).

The Leathernecks are three points shy of having won seven consecutive games, which includes only a 70-68 loss to South Dakota during their strong play.

“It doesn’t matter where you play,” Korn continued, “it doesn’t matter what the statistics are, it doesn’t matter what the records are, it is hard to win college basketball games.”

For SEMO’s sake, it would help immensely if Korn’s thoughts proved prophetic, because Western Illinois, given all of those aspects that Korn mentioned, should win this game.

The Redhawks have just two wins against NCAA Division I competition, and none on the road. Conversely, the Leathernecks are 5-1 in Macomb, though it needs to be said that four of those home victories have come against non-Division I competition.

“In the OVC,” Korn said, “and in conference play, everyone just keeps making plays and stepping up.”

For Western Illinois, it has hung its formula for success at the defensive end of the court, which could be problematic for the Redhawks’ offense.

The Leathernecks rank second in the league this season in field goal percentage defense (39.9 percent), whereas SEMO ranks 11th in the 11-team league (47.3 percent shooting allowed).

Western Illinois is allowing opponents to connect on just 29.3 percent of their 3-point shots, which is second-best in the OVC while for SEMO, it ranks ninth in 3-point shooting (30.8 percent).

The ominous signs continue when looking at how the Leathernecks finish defensive possessions.

Western Illinois is the best rebounding team in the conference (44.1 boards per game), as compared to the Redhawks, which grabs less than 34 missed shots per game and are outrebounded by 2.57 boards each night.

“It’s college basketball,” Korn said, “you have to be ready to go.”

A big key to SEMO's success will be the health of Korn’s team.

The Redhawks have had to deal with injuries to junior wing TJ Biel (missed the Illinois State game recently), junior guard Dylan Branson (missed the opening 10 games of the season), junior forward Kobe Clark (missed the past 11 games), senior center Josh Earley (missed two games last month), redshirt sophomore guard Gavyn Elkamil (missed each of the past two games), sophomore guard Evan Eursher (missed two games late last month), and freshman guard BJ Ward (missed an early game in November).

Only center David Idada, guards Aquan Smart and Rob Martin, and forwards Adam Larson, and Braxton Stacker have played in all 14 games this season.

“When your number is called,” Korn said, “you have to be ready to go.”