Wednesday, November 18th, 8:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Show Me Center (7,000) -- Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Television: None. Home Record: Arkansas State 1-0, SEMO 0-0. Away Record: Arkansas State 0-0, SEMO 0-1. Neutral Record: Arkansas State 0-0, SEMO 0-0. Conference Record: Arkansas State 0-0, SEMO 0-0. Series Record: Southeast Missouri State leads, 38-25.

GAME NOTES: Southeast Missouri State will host its first home contest of the season when the Arkansas State Red Wolves invade Cape Girardeau to take on the Redhawks in a non-conference battle at the Show Me Center.

The Red Wolves began their season with a convincing, 93-47 victory over MacMurray College on Monday. The win snapped a 10-game slide for ASU, dating back to last season. Arkansas State is trying to bounce back from a rough 2008-09 season in which the team went just 13-17 overall, and that includes a 4-12 mark away from home.

As for the Redhawks, they opened their new campaign by getting topped by Saint Louis, as SEMO was defeated by the Billikens, 59-41. It was the 20th consecutive loss for the Redhawks dating back to last year. However, SEMO is 12-5 in its last 17 home openers, and will try to snap a nine-game home losing skid this evening against the Red Wolves.

The Redhawks hold a commanding, 38-25 edge over Arkansas State in the all-time series, but the Red Wolves were victorious over SEMO this past season, 86-68.

The Red Wolves were not really challenged in their season-opener, as the team pounded MacMurray College by 46 points. However, even though the team was victorious, Arkansas State suffered a huge loss when the top scorer from last season Donald Boone (13.6 ppg) lasted only four minutes on the court before suffering a severe knee injury. It is still unclear how long Boone will be out, but there is a possibility he could be finished for the season. As for the game, the majority of the damage was caused by the bench, as the starters did not see much action due to the comfortable to lead. Daniel Bryant led the way with 18 points, while Brandon Peterson posted a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Brandon Reed contributed 12 points, six rebounds and six assists, while Adam Sterrenberg tallied 11 points in just 17 minutes. The only starter to record double figures was Mike Lance, who chipped in 10 points, to go along with his seven rebounds.

It certainly was an inauspicious start to the Dickey Nutt era at Southeast Missouri State, as the Redhawks tallied just 41 points in an 18-point setback to Saint Louis. The Redhawks shot a paltry 27.5 percent from the field in the contest, and that includes an embarrassing 1-of-11 clip from long range. Derek Thompson posted 10 points despite shooting just 3-of-12 from the field, and also grabbed a team-best seven rebounds. Anthony Allison also tallied 10 points in the loss, while KaJuan Watson chipped in nine points off the bench. One reason for the poor showing could have been because JaJuan Maxwell, the top returning scorer from last year's team (7.2 ppg) lasted only five minutes on the floor before sustaining a knee injury. It is unclear how long Maxwell will be out for, but the forward will not be in action this evening.

Both teams saw their best returning players go down with knee injuries, but the only difference is that Arkansas State was able to still grab a victory. However, the Redhawks did face tougher competition. When it is all said and done, the Redhawks are home, but that will not mean much in this contest.

Predicted Outcome

Arkansas State 66, SE Missouri State 55