Editor: The following is part of a press release from gosoutheast.com.
(Cape Girardeau, M0) – Southeast Missouri announced its 2018-19 Men’s Basketball Schedule Wednesday. The Redhawks have 31 regular-season games, including 14 at the Show Me Center.
“I believe our schedule is really balanced in providing our fan base with some exciting opponents and getting our inexperienced team ready for the always tough Ohio Valley Conference with a challenging non-conference slate,” said fourth-year SEMO head coach Rich Ray.
SEMO plays away from home in five of its first six contests with its opener two hours north on Interstate 55 at Saint Louis (Nov. 6). The Redhawks also visit Bradley during opening week.
SLU, picked as the Atlantic 10-favorite in several early preseason predictions, went 17-16 overall a year ago. This season will be the 15thmeeting between the teams.
The Redhawks host NCAA Division II Quincy University in its November 12 home-opener.
After that, SEMO will face Jacksonville, Chattanooga and South Alabama at the South Alabama Tournament in Mobile prior to Thanksgiving.
“The imposing South Alabama tournament field will contribute to us being prepared for success in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament,” said Ray.
Home games with Missouri S&T, Western Illinois, regional-rival Southern Illinois and Abilene Christian, and road tilts at Mississippi Valley State, The Citadel and Atlantic Coast Conference member Florida State (December 17) make up the the remainder of the non-conference slate.
SEMO squares off against SIU for the 116thtime in the all-time series which dates back to 1914.
“There’s a lot of history in this series and our home game against SIU grants our community an opportunity to support us versus a longtime rival,” commented Ray. “Fans on both sides of the Mississippi River always look forward to this rivalry.”
The Redhawks square off against Florida State for just the second time. FSU reached the Elite Eight of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and compiled an overall record of 23-12 along the way.
“It is always special for us to travel to places where our players’ families can come out and watch them play in their home state,” said Ray. “This year’s schedule allows Ledarrius Brewer (Meridian) to return to Mississippi when we travel to Mississippi Valley State and Skyler (Melbourne) to return to Florida when we go to Florida State.”
SEMO’s 18-game OVC schedule affords the Redhawks home games in three of their first four contests. The Redhawks begin league play at SIU Edwardsville (January 3) before hosting a three-game home stand that includes UT Martin, Austin Peay and Murray State.
The OVC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships presented by VisitMyrtleBeach.com, will be held March 6-9 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. This marks the second-straight year the event will be held at the venue.
The Redhawks host Southwest Baptist in their only exhibition game on Oct. 27.
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As we near the closing of the portal window, we've reached 1900. Some of them never to play college basketball again, earn a college degree and some to play at a much lower level than they did last season.
I guess we'll be seeing this in a @RacersHoops uniform this year. Glad AJ is staying in the @ValleyHoops.
