Redhawk Notes: SEMO continues battles with health as much as opposition

Southeast Missouri State junior forward Nygall Russell grabs a rebound against Evansville on Wednesday at the Show Me Center.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – It has been a challenge for second-year Southeast Missouri State men’s basketball coach Brad Korn to get a true assessment of his team through 10 games this season. After all, Korn has rarely had his entire roster available for any specific game due to illnesses and injuries.

In Saturday’s road loss at Purdue Fort Wayne, Korn had to figure out how to defend a skilled offensive team without one of his key defensive players, junior forward Nygal Russell, who missed the game due to illness.

“When you get in pinches or you get stuck in tough times,” Korn said following the loss, “older, experienced guys can find their way through offensively and defensively.

“Nygel is one of those guys for us. He’s an experienced guy. He’s been in a bunch of games.”

Russell has shot 48 percent from the floor this season and has made every one of his 11 free throw attempts. However, his biggest impact has been at the defensive end, where he leads the Redhawks with over seven rebounds per game.

“He understands defensive scouting reports,” Korn said of Russell. “He rebounds. (But offensively) He can get to the rim, which we had to do against (Purdue Fort Wayne) today. You had to have those controlled dribbles to get into the paint, strongly and aggressively, with two feet. He obviously brings that for us.”

Junior center Nate Johnson returned to the lineup after missing the win over Evansville last week. He scored four points in 13 minutes of action, but only grabbed one rebound.

Sophomore Parker Long and freshman center Sam Thompson also missed Saturday’s game due to injury.

Southeast Missouri State freshman forward Dylan Branson puts up a shot against Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday in Fort Wayne, Ind. (Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com)

Dylan’s day

There are only five SEMO players that have appeared in all 10 games this season, with freshman forward Dylan Branson being one of them, and on Saturday, he had his best game of the season offensively.

The 6-foot-5 player out of Mehlville High School hit half of his six shots to finish with a season-high eight points in 26 minutes.

“It was good to see him make shots,” Korn said. “He has been in a slump shooting-wise. I told him in the first half to shoot it, but he had an opportunity in the first half, he was dead underneath the basket, but turned and fired it to the corner for a 3, but he had a wide-open two.”

In six of the nine games leading into Saturday, Branson hadn’t made a shot, however, in the other four games following Saturday, he has connected on seven of his 13 shot attempts.

Branson also grabbed four rebounds in Saturday’s outing, which neared his season-high of five (against Montana State).

Southeast Missouri State freshman guard Phillip Russell passes the ball through traffic against Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday in Fort Wayne, Ind. (Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com)

(Not) a passing fancy

After dishing out a season-best 15 assists against Evansville, the Redhawks had their second-lowest output of assists (10) against Purdue Fort Wayne.

Saturday’s offensive effort was not indicative of what Korn has been preaching to his team this season in terms of sharing the basketball.

“There really isn’t a whole lot that we say,” Korn explained, “that other people don’t say, but now it is do they believe that message?”

No momentum

The Redhawks have played eight games against NCAA Division I competition this season and are 3-5 in those contests. However, following each of those three victories, SEMO has failed to have any positive momentum in order to win a second consecutive game against its peers.

That ignominious streak continued Saturday and getting back on track will prove challenging on Wednesday against Korn’s alma mater, Southern Illinois.

“Southern Illinois has had a lot of close games,” Korn said. “They’ll be defensive-minded. We’ve got to be hooked up a ready to go.”

The Salukis beat SEMO in Cape Girardeau last season 87-79 in overtime.