CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's and women's basketball teams will open Ohio Valley Conference play at Southeast Missouri on Saturday at the Show Me Center. The women tip at 1:00 p.m., followed by the men at 3:30 p.m.
Men's Preview
WHAT TO KNOW
Live Stats I Live Video I Live Audio I Live Tweets I Game Notes
- EKU (7-8) wrapped up non-conference play with a 70-51 win over UVa-Wise on Wednesday night at McBrayer Arena. Sophomore
Nick Mayo and freshmen
Asante Gist and
DeAndre Dishman combined for 47 points to lead the Colonels.
- Mayo scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out a career-high six assists in the win over UVa-Wise. Mayo leads EKU and ranks fourth in the OVC in scoring at 18.0 points-per-game.
- Dishman made the most of his first career start, scoring a career-high 15 points and grabbing seven boards. The freshman from Lexington leads EKU in field goal percentage this season (66.0%).
- EKU committed a season-low eight turnovers in the win over UVa-Wise.
- EKU went on the road and beat Austin Peay, 79-70, in last year's OVC opener.
- EKU is 1-3 all-time on New Year's Eve. The Colonels won their last New Year's Eve game, 73-68, against Tennessee State on the final day of 2011 at McBrayer Arena.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
- Southeast Missouri (5-10) had lost seven straight before defeating Henderson State, 89-75, on Thursday night in Cape Girardeau.
- Antonius Cleveland paces the Redhawks at 17.9 points-per-game.
- This is the 49th all-time meeting between EKU and Southeast Missouri. EKU leads the series, 29-19, and has won five straight over SEMO.
- The Colonels defeated the Redhawks, 88-69, last year in Richmond. Sophomore
Nick Mayo had 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in the win.
UP NEXT
EKU returns to Richmond to host its next four games at McBrayer, beginning with SIUE on Thursday, January 5 at 8:00 p.m.
Women's Preview
WHAT TO KNOW
Live Stats |
Live Video |
Game Notes
- EKU leads the all-time series with Southeast Missouri 29-15 and has won three straight in the series. The last two games between the two teams have been decided by a total of four points (56-55 & 57-54). Last season in Richmond, Eastern won 56-55.
- Senior
Jalen O'Bannon blocked five shots at UNC Greensboro (Dec. 28). That is the most blocked shots in a game by a Colonel since Jade Barber blocked seven against Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 9, 2012.
- Newcomer
Marcella Rocha dished out a season-best five assists at UNC Greensboro (Dec. 28). Her previous high was two.
- O'Bannon came off the bench at UNC Greensboro (Dec. 28) to score 16 points, grab six rebounds, block five shots, dish out two assists and come up with one steal in 30 minutes of action. Over her last two games, the senior is averaging 18 points, six rebounds, three blocks and 1.5 steals while shooting 63 percent from the field.
- Senior
Alexus Cooper set a new career-scoring high in three straight games. She first broke her previous mark of 18 points when she scored 19 at home against Akron (Dec. 10). One day later she notched 22 points in a win over Ohio Valley (Dec. 11). Then, she beat that number with 26 at Wright State (Dec. 19).
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
- Southeast Missouri is 6-8 overall and 0-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference after falling at home to Tennessee Tech, 74-63, on Thursday. The Redhawks have wins over two non-NCAA Division I teams along with Evansville, Alcorn State, Lipscomb and Alabama A&M.
- Olivia Hackman, a 5-foot-10 senior guard/forward leads SEMO with an average of 14.2 points per game and is tied for the team lead with 6.5 rebounds per game.
- As a team, Southeast averages 74 points per game, tied for second in the conference, while shooting 42 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range (first in the OVC). The Redhawks also pull down 41.6 rebounds per game.
UP NEXT
EKU will be back home to host SIU Edwardsville on Thursday (Jan. 5). Tip-off at McBrayer Arena is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
