RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team returns to the friendly confines of McBrayer Arena Thursday night when the Colonels host Southeast Missouri. The game, sponsored by Coca-Cola, will be televised nationally by ESPNU and tip off at 9 p.m.

The Colonels (14-10, 7-6 OVC) have won five straight conference games at home. A win over Southeast Missouri would keep EKU in the hunt for the fourth seed in the upcoming OVC tournament. The top four teams host opening round games in the league tourney on March 3.

Meanwhile, senior Mike Rose is aiming to be the first Eastern player to average at least 20 points per game since 1986-87 (Antonio Parris, 20.5 ppg). Rose needs four more points to move up to third on the EKU all-time scoring list. The guard currently has 1,632 career points. Rose also enters Thursday’s game leading the nation in three-point shooting (48.8 percent).

Southeast Missouri (3-21, 0-13 OVC) is still looking for its first OVC win of the year. The Redhawks have lost 13 straight games overall. Kenard Moore leads the team in scoring at 17.4 ppg. Moore paced SEMO with 24 points in its most recent game at Eastern Illinois. Jajuan Maxwell chipped in with a double-double at EIU – 15 points, 10 rebounds.

The all-time series between EKU and Southeast Missouri is tied at 17-all. The Colonels will be attempting to complete the season sweep over the Redhawks for the first time since the 1995-96 season.

Following the Southeast Missouri game, Eastern Kentucky is right back in action on Saturday with a home game against Eastern Illinois.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Game Notes
--Click here for game notes!

Television
--ESPNU

Video Streaming
--Thursday’s game will NOT be available live on OVCSports.tv due to coverage from ESPNU.

Live Audio
--Thursday’s game can be heard locally on WCYO 100.7 FM and WEKU 88.9 FM. Click here for live radio broadcast!

Live Stats
--Click here for live stats!

Tickets
--Tickets are available by calling the EKU ticket office at 859-622-2122. The ticket box office will open at 4:30 p.m., one hour prior to the women’s contest. Arena doors will open at 4:30 p.m., as well.

Storylines
--Eastern Kentucky leads the league in three-pointers made per game (10.3) and three-point shooting (39.2 percent). Over the last three games, the Colonels are shooting 47.7 percent (31-of-65) from behind the arc.

--Junior Robin Mestdagh recorded a career-high 13 points in the last meeting between the two teams.