SEMO to face Texas A&M Corpus Christi in NCAA Tournament

The Southeast Missouri State University men’s basketball team did not have to wait long get their assignment on Sunday afternoon. The Redhawks, coming off their Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship, were the second team announced Sunday, March 12 during the NCAA March Madness Selection Show.

Southeast was named a 16 seed and will play in a First Four game against fellow 16 seed and Southland Conference champion Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Tuesday, March 14 in Dayton, Ohio.

The university held a Selection Show watch party Sunday at the Show Me Center, and hundreds of fans dressed in red and black filled one side of the arena to celebrate the Redhawks’ first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 23 years. Along with the selection show, there were performances by the university marching band and remarks from SEMO coach Brad Korn and OVC Tournament MVP Chris Harris. Fans later enjoyed a meet and greet with players and coaches.

Sophomore guard Phillip Russell appreciated the community support for the team.

“I told one of the guys when we came out this is the most fans we’ve had all year,” Russell said. “It’s crazy that all of Cape Girardeau is rallying behind us.”

Only two players on the roster — seniors Chris Harris and Nate Johnson — were alive the last time the Redhawks participated in the NCAA Tournament 23 years ago. Now that the Redhawks know what team they will play next, Harris said it is going to be business as usual.

“It doesn’t affect our mindset too much,” Harris said. “So much of what we did this season was predicated on how we play our game and the opponent doesn’t change that. Obviously we respect our opponent, but we’ll go out and play our way like we have all year.”

This is the first tournament trip since 2000 and only the second trip ever for the program. It will also be a chance for the Redhawks to win a tournament game for the first time in program history. In the previous tournament appearance, the 13-seeded Redhawks lost 64-61 to No. 4 LSU.

It took a lot of things going SEMO’s way this season for the team to end up in this position. The team survived injuries and illnesses to players, won four games in four days in the OVC Tournament and came out on top in an overtime thriller in the championship game.

Head Coach Brad Korn said he is proud of how his team overcame the ups and downs to see themselves in this situation.

“I thought we always had the potential to be this type of a team, and it's hard when we deal with injuries and illnesses that we've had. Johnson is the only guy that has started every single game this year,” Korn said. “For us to finally be able to come together at the right time in the end and then have this kind of a reward for it, I'm really happy for them.”

SEMO and Texas A&M Corpus Christi will face off at 5:40 p.m. (CST) Tuesday at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. The game will be broadcast on truTV. The winner will face No. 1 seed Alabama Thursday in Birmingham, Alabama.