College Sports

The holidays have yet to begin but BJ Ward has already gifted himself and his Southeast Missouri State teammates with a big bounce-back game. After going five games with only single-digit scoring, and a dry spell from the three-point line, Ward scored 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-9 from the arc...

First-year head coach Briley Palmer earned her first Ohio Valley Conference win on Saturday afternoon as her Redhawks women’s basketball team defeated the SIUE Cougars 67-61. The Redhawks went down 4-0 early, but a 12-2 run put SEMO up 12-6 and forced the Cougar into a timeout. Offensive rebounds and fast-break offense, combined with holding SIUE to 21% shooting, gave the Redhawks a 20-10 lead after one quarter...

Clemson University head football coach Dabo Swinney’s first-ever non-quarterback transfer portal pickup is coming straight out of Cape Girardeau. Southeast Missouri State wide receiver Tristan Smith announced his decision to transfer to Clemson on Monday, Dec. 16...

When Zoe Best was a high school basketball player at the St. Louis all-girls school, Incarnate Word Academy, she never lost a varsity game. The Red Knights girls basketball team has won 12 state championships since 2010, finished the previous four seasons undefeated, and is currently in a 124-game winning streak...

Southeast Missouri State opened the Ohio Valley Conference slate of the season with a 71-55 loss against Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Dec. 19, at the Show Me Center. Freshman Zoe Best led the Redhawks with 19 points on 7 of 18 shooting. Both Indiya Bowen and Skylar Barnes scored 10 points each for SEMO...

Southeast Missouri State linebacker Bryce Norman and kicker DC Pippin were named as first-team members in the FCS AP All-America team. SEMO offensive lineman Kobe Sixkiller was also named Offense honorable mention. Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott and Southern Utah running back Targhee Lambson, both finalists for the Walter Payton Award given to the most outstanding player in the Championship Subdivision...

The Southeast Missouri State men’s basketball team took full advantage of their first chance to prove themselves against a Big South-Ohio Valley Conference opponent. Teddy Washington Jr. posted his third double-double of the year behind 28 points and 10 rebounds and SEMO finished strong in a 79-72 win over Eastern Illinois on Thursday night at the Show Me Center...

As we do with every sport in Southeast Missouri State athletics (outside of football), we bemoan the Redhawks' shortcomings in the non-conference portion of the season and renew hope in time for the Ohio Valley Conference slate of the schedule. "We played a tough non-con," SEMO men's basketball coach Brad Korn said. "We'll always probably play a tough non-con."...

Southeast Missouri State unleashed the deafening screech of elementary school children across the area during their Monday morning matinee with in-state rival, Missouri State. The advantage from the atmosphere wasn’t enough as the Redhawks fell to Bears 77-49 on Dec. 16, at the Show Me Center...

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Three Rivers College women's basketball team picked up not one, but two, marquee victories over the weekend at the Shelton State Classic. The Lady Raiders finished the 2024 portion of their schedule in strong fashion at the two-day event, first by defeating the host Bucs 52-51 on Saturday, then defeating previously-unbeaten Pearl River (Mississippi) 80-70 on Sunday afternoon...

Cape Central High School state champion swimmer Sydney Ringwald officially committed to Florida Gulf Coast University on Monday, Dec. 16. Ringwald captured Class 1 state titles in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle last season.

The Jones College Bobcats showed the Three Rivers College men’s basketball team why many consider them to be a legitimate national championship contender. Jones shot an astounding 69% (20-for-29) from the field in the first half as the Bobcats built up a 24-point halftime lead and cruised to a 91-64 victory over the Raiders Friday night at the Libla Family Sports Complex...

Paxton DeLaurent ended his college career as one of, if not the most consequential athlete in the history of Southeast Missouri State athletics. DeLaurent leaves SEMO with two of the Redhawks’ five Ohio Valley Conference titles and all the significant passing records (8,563 yards, 737 completions, 63 touchdowns in three years). He has punctuated his end by revealing his future plans by declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft...

The Three Rivers College men's basketball team could not dig out of a pair of early holes as the Raiders lost twice to Illinois teams over the weekend. Three Rivers trailed John A. Logan by 15 points at halftime on Saturday afternoon before falling 60-52 to the Volunteers in Carterville, Illinois. ...

The Southeast Missouri State men’s basketball team renewed their old rivalry with Murray State and fell 71-51 on Sunday, Dec. 8, in Murray, Kentucky. The Redhawks and Racers used to be Ohio Valley Conference rivals before Murray State moved to the Missouri Valley Conference in the 2022-23 season. Sunday was the first time the two teams met as non-conference opponents...

Southeast Missouri State women’s soccer head coach Heather Nelson is retiring after 26 seasons, the university announced on Friday. "It is with a mix of emotions that I'm announcing my retirement from college soccer today. I'd like to start with a heartfelt thank you to my family for believing in me and always and forever being there for me,” Nelson said in a statement. ...

Transferring is a part of life in college football because not all places, and players, are created equal. Everyone who plays football or basketball at Southeast Missouri State does so because they are motivated by the opportunities that playing for the Redhawks presents them with...

Jacob Ognacevic scored 20 points and Gyasi Powell added 19 to lead Lipscomb to a commanding 78-60 win over Southeast Missouri State on Thursday, Dec. 5, in Nashville. Troy Cole Jr. led the Redhawks with 10 points off the bench. It was his second straight double-digit performance after scoring 13 against Kansas City on Nov. 30. Cole shot 4-for-9 from the field including SEMO’s first three-point basket of the game, which turned out to be the theme of the game...

VINCENNES, Ind. — The Three Rivers College women's basketball team shook off a slow start as it pulled away for a 71-45 win over the Vincennes Lady Trailblazers on Wednesday. Vincennes led 15-13 after the opening period, but the Lady Raiders used a strong second quarter to take a 10-point lead (34-24) to the locker room...

The Three Rivers College men’s basketball team hosted the Shawnee Saints for a Wednesday night contest at the Libla Family Sports Complex. Despite a few struggles, the Raiders were able to come away with a 65-55 win, improving their record to 10-3 while the Saints fall to .500 at 5-5...

It’s a shame that one 1-3 month undermined what seemed like a potentially historic season. Southeast Missouri State’s FCS Playoff loss to Illinois State last week wasn’t just the end of the 2024 season, but the end of one of the most legendary football journeys in our community’s history...

Southeast Missouri State wide receiver Tristan Smith announced on social media his intention to enter the transfer portal with one more year left of eligibility. "First and foremost, I would like to thank God," Smith said in his statement. "Thank you to SEMO for the past year I have been here. ...

Cape Central senior volleyball player Ella Hukel signed her national letter of intent to the University of South Carolina Aiken on Monday, Dec. 2. The three-time All-SEMO Conference selection led the Lady Tigers in aces and assists in 2024 as one of the top setters in the area.

In his final game at Houck Field, Southeast Missouri State senior quarterback Paxton DeLaurent had the equivalent of a warrior’s death. The Redhawks all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns, tied an FCS single-game record with 85 passing attempts in a 35-27 loss against Illinois State in the first round of the FCS Playoffs on Nov. 30...

ATHENS, Texas — Kierra Sanderlin’s basket with four seconds remaining lifted the Trinity Valley Lady Cardinals women’s college basketball team to a 60-58 win over the Three Rivers College Lady Raiders on the final day of the Budke/Serna Classic on Saturday evening...

After back-to-back losing seasons, the Three Rivers College men’s basketball team has come a long way during the first month of this season. Saturday night, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M reminded the Raiders they still have not quite arrived yet. The 12th-ranked Norsemen dominated the final 15 minutes of Saturday’s contest as they downed Three Rivers 96-82 in the championship game of the Bank of Grandin Thanksgiving Classic at the Libla Family Sports Complex...

Backed by four players scoring in double digits and a lights-out defensive performance, SEMO men's basketball showcased its prowess behind a dominant 80-59 victory over Kansas City on Saturday night.

Chloe Williams scored 22 points and Keslyn Secrist added 13 as the Indiana State Sycamores snatched victory from the talons of the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks 68-65 on Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Show Me Center. Lexi McCully and Ainaya Williams each led the Redhawks with 12 points, followed by 11 points from Zoe Best and 10 from Indiya Bowen...

Southeast Missouri State football’s playoff hopes dashed as Illinois State dominates behind a 35-27 loss in the opening round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 30, at Houck Field.

For the second game in a row, the Three Rivers College men’s basketball team shook off an early slump to come away with a big win on the opening night of the Bank of Grandin Thanksgiving Classic. Trailing Southern Arkansas University Tech by seven points with 7:18 left in the first half, the Raiders took the lead for good exactly four minutes later and ultimately cruised to an 80-60 win over the visiting Rockets Thursday night. ...

Southeast Missouri State football takes on Illinois State in the FCS playoff opener on Saturday and will look to right the ship following a loss in the regular season finale. Read how the Redhawks can leverage home advantage and rebound at Houck Field.

After stints at three colleges, SEMO women's basketball guard Lexi McCully is making her mark for the Redhawks. Overcoming challenges, she's now a key player under head coach Briley Palmer.

The baseball evolution of former Cooter High School standout Hayden Nazerenus took another step upward recently when he signed to play for NCAA Division I Western Kentucky University in the fall of 2025.

SEMO football's Paxton DeLaurent and Bryce Norman earn 2024 Big South-OVC Player of the Year honors, marking a historic first for the Redhawks. The seniors are also two of 13 SEMO players to earn all-conference selections.

Morehead State rallies past Southeast Missouri in OVC semifinals, securing a spot in the championship match and dashing Southeast's NCAA hopes. Can the Redhawks bounce back next season?

CAPE GIRARDEAU — Briley Palmer said she wanted to put her full attention on her team during a changing of the guard for Southeast Missouri State women’s basketball. Following a rocky 0-4 start, the Redhawks finally pulled through and got the win for their new head coach...