SEMO sophomore getting healthy, hot as OVC play begins

Throughout his first two seasons with the Southeast Missouri State men’s basketball program, now-sophomore forward Dylan Branson played a lot of basketball for the Redhawks.

The St. Louis native played in 59 games during those two seasons, but never averaged more than 18 minutes per game or scored – on average – more than three points per game.

It’s a new year this year, for Branson.

Since Ohio Valley Conference play started a couple of weeks ago, Branson has elevated his game, his scoring, and subsequently, his playing time, significantly.

“He’s a tough kid,” third-year Redhawk coach Brad Korn said of Branson recently. “He’s got a high IQ.”

Branson will try to put together another strong outing tonight, as SEMO (7-10, 2-2 OVC) hosts Lindenwood (7-10, 2-2) at the Show Me Center at 7 p.m. (ESPN+).

Over the past four games, Branson has averaged nearly 25 minutes per game and 12 points per game. Twice during the stretch, he has notched a career-best in points, including Saturday’s 19-point effort in a road win at Little Rock.

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

This season was initially a struggle for Branson, who is shooting 62 percent from the floor over the four games.

He injured his ankle during the preseason and eventually missed the first four games of this year.

“Before he got hurt,” Korn said, “Dylan probably had the best summer that he has ever had. He was moving great. He was doing a lot of things for us and then, unfortunately, he had a surgery that set him back.”

Korn said not only did the surgery “set him back,” but even after Branson returned to the court, it takes a long time before a player can be as agile as he needs to be to contribute.

“Anytime that you are dealing with (an injured) foot,” Korn explained, “your conditioning can’t quite be the same as it was. You can’t quite get the same exact workouts in.

“I think that Dylan is now just getting back to where he was before the injury.”

At one point this season, the Redhawks lost eight consecutive games, but have now won two of their past three. Branson said recently that throughout his struggles, and his team’s struggles, the confidence of the locker room never wavered.

“Most of the guys come in every day to practice with good energy, no matter win, lose or draw,” Branson said. “That carries over. When we have good energy at practice, then it carries over to games.

“I like to say that we need to make (the opponent) match our energy before the game. We can’t be catching up with the other team or we’ll get ourselves in trouble.”