The Sports Network

DATE & TIME: Thursday, January 17, 8 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Show Me Center (7,000) -- Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Television: None. Home Record: Morehead State 7-2. SEMO 6-2. Away Record: Morehead State 0-8, SEMO 3-5. Neutral Record: Morehead State 1-0, SEMO 1-2. Conference Record: Morehead State 2-2, SEMO 2-3. Series Record: Morehead State leads, 21-17.

GAMES NOTES: The Southeast Missouri State Redhawks will attempt to put an end to a three-game losing streak when they go up against the Morehead State Eagles in Ohio Valley Conference action at the Show Me Center.

Morehead State has lost each of its last two contests after a three-game winning streak. The Eagles have fallen below .500 with the two setbacks and are now 8-10 overall. Morehead State has split its four conference games but is winless in all eight of its road games. This is the third contest in a four-game road trip for the Eagles, who finish the stretch up against Tennessee-Martin on Saturday.

SEMO had won four straight contests before its current losing streak which has left it at 10-9 overall. All three of the losses came to OVC opponents, dropping the Redhawks to 2-3 in league action. A return home should help the Redhawks remedy their circumstances as they are 6-2 at the Show Me Center, where they play Tennessee Tech next.

In just one meetings last season SEMO earned a 67-51 win to halt a eight-game winning streak for the Eagles in the series. Morehead State still leads the all-time series, 21-17.

The Eagles lost to Eastern Kentucky 59-52 on Saturday in a game in which they trailed by as many as 20 points. Morehead State shot just 37.3 percent from the floor in the contest and turned the ball over 22 times, leading to 26 points for the Colonels.

On the season Morehead State has been the second worst shooting team in the OVC by connecting on just 42.1 percent of its shots from the field. Despite that the Eagles have managed to fit right in the middle in terms of points per game (70.4 ppg). Rebounding has been a strength, as they are second in the conference on the boards (37.9 pg). Milton Chavis (11.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg) is the only player on the roster scoring in double figures and one of four players bringing down at least four boards a game. Angelo Warner (9.2 ppg) is the second leading scorer but needs to improve his shooting (.349 FG percentage). Chad Posthumus (7.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg) paces the team on the glass.

The Redhawks were dropped by conference-leading Tennessee State, 81-69, in their last outing. SEMO fell behind 43-29 at the break after shooting just 38.5 percent in the first half. The Redhawks rallied in the second half and hit 47.1 percent of its shots from the floor, including 6-of-13 from beyond the arc, but a 14-2 deficit from the free-throw line kept them at bay.

The only team in the conference that has rebounded better than Morehead State is its opponent in this contest. SEMO is hauling in 38 boards per game this season, while ranking fifth in the league in scoring (71.4 ppg), assists (13.6 pg) and field-goal percentage (.455). Tyler Stone (16.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg) and Nino Johnson (11.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg) form one of the most productive frontcourt duos in the conference. Stone is more versatile with his ability to spread the floor, while Johnson is a more traditional big man, ranking second in the conference in blocks (2.2 pg). In the backcourt, Corey Wilford (13.9 ppg) and Lucas Nutt (5.5 ppg, 4.3 apg) lead the way.

With the superior scoring options that the Redhawks have, added to Morehead State's road woes, SEMO should get the win here.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: SE Missouri State 71, Morehead State 65