Nolan Taylor returns in SEMO loss at Murray

Saturday, February 13, 2021

Southeast Missouri State senior Nolan Taylor puts up a shot against SIU Edwardsville last month at the Show Me Center.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

Southeast Missouri State senior center Nolan Taylor returned after missing time due to a knee injury with 10 points in 13 minutes.

The boost wasn’t enough as the Redhawks fell on the road against Murray State 80-60 on Friday at Murray, Ky.

Taylor’s last game was SEMO’s 64-62 win over SIU Edwardsville on Jan. 28. He currently averages 9.7 points per game in his only season with the Redhawks.

“He does what he normally does,” SEMO head coach Brad Korn said. “He’s a problem on the block. We give it to him and he’s effective in there.”

Chico Carter Jr. scored a game-high 22 points and KJ Williams had 17 points and seven rebounds for the Racers (10-9, 7-7 Ohio Valley Conference). Tevin Brown added 15 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.

Jordan Love had 11 points, including shooting 4-of-4 from the free-throw line for the Redhawks (7-13, 5-9). The sophomore has shot 12-of-16 from the charity stripe in the month of February.

“He had a good game against Tennessee Tech and then he kind of didn’t have a good one against Jacksonville where he went 1-of-5,” Korn said. “That’s something that he’s worked on this whole season.”

Chris Harris, who led the Redhawks with 13 points per game entering into the game, scored two points. It was the fourth game this season in which the junior scored less than 10 points.

A jumper by Nana Akenten in the 18-minute mark of the first half gave the Redhawks their first and only lead of the game. The Racers went on to take over the game by shooting 60.7 percent with six 3-pointers in the first half to lead 42-30

“They did a good job in finding Williams,” Korn said. “Tevin Brown obviously played extremely well. They did a good job in spacing us and finishing with high ball screens. I actually thought we defended them well for the couple possessions there. They hit a couple tough, tough shots that kind of broke out backs.”

Murray State scored four fewer points in the second half compared to the first half but with SEMO staying stagnant with 30 points in both half, the Racers were able to add to their lead without any threat of a comeback.

Sikeston grad Parker Long played six minutes but did not register a stat.

The last time SEMO defeated Murray State was on Jan 26, 2017, the last season in which the Redhawks appeared in the OVC Tournament. SEMO remains in eighth place of the OVC standings with a half-game lead over UT Martin.

The game was moved up a day, originally slated for Thursday, due to icy weather. Saturday’s game at Austin Peay is still slated for Saturday, which means back-to-back games for the Redhawks.

“It’s definitely a challenge,” Korn said. “It’s not ideal but this whole year has not been ideal. So we’ll lick our wounds tonight and pick ourselves back up and be ready to roll tomorrow because no one is going to feel sorry for us.”

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A lot of dribbling. Guys open on wings and corners but after penatration players won’t kick it out. Did a few times and ended up with buckets. Branson only rarely gets the ball when he’s open for a shot. Got a couple in this game. Shot clock management is bad. Either too quick of a shot or can’t get a good shot off with time running out. BTW where did Harris’s shot go?

-- Posted by Beacon of Light on Sat, Feb 13, 2021, at 6:03 AM
Who cares. Did the players disappear for the national anthem at Murray too? Done with SEMO.

-- Posted by BrahmaBull on Sat, Feb 13, 2021, at 9:36 AM
At SEMO home games the players for both teams stand as they play "Lift Every Voice and Sing." The players all hide in the locker room when the National Anthem is played. Nothing but disgraceful.

-- Posted by woosyboy on Sun, Feb 14, 2021, at 8:19 PM
Only speak if you know what you’re talking about. Semo has for years and years played anthem while both teams are in locker room. Belmont, Peay and Murray are only teams that don’t. No one is hiding, take your bogus agenda somewhere else. No Semo player knelt on Saturday, men or women.

-- Posted by capewebmaster on Mon, Feb 15, 2021, at 11:09 AM
I've been a season ticket holder for 34 years. I know what I'm talking about. I have seen them line up along the free throw many times for the anthem.

-- Posted by woosyboy on Mon, Feb 15, 2021, at 4:48 PM
Not in the last five plus years you haven’t. Call the school if you must. You’re old and your memory isn’t what it used to be. Name me one time in the last 8 years they were out there fir the anthem ?? One time ??! Cmon name it !!!!!!

-- Posted by capewebmaster on Mon, Feb 15, 2021, at 5:06 PM
Plenty of times when Nutt was head coach, There take that.

-- Posted by woosyboy on Mon, Feb 15, 2021, at 6:29 PM
Webmaster do you believe this is the correct thing to do, if yes why?

-- Posted by Outfield on Mon, Feb 15, 2021, at 7:27 PM
That is incorrect, under Nutt they had anthem played at 10 minute mark his entire tenure, that’s a fact. You are wrong sir. I don’t care if they’re out there or not, no reason to bring anthem controversy to Semo. They’ve been in locker room for over a decade. Go check your facts not your hazy memory.

-- Posted by capewebmaster on Mon, Feb 15, 2021, at 8:38 PM
capewebmaster is correct. Many, many times over the last 20 years our teams have remained in the locker room during the anthem. It wasn't that they did it on purpose as some kind of protest it was that they just weren't ready to come out yet. I was very good friends with coach Nutt and I know for a fact they NEVER stayed in the locker room as some sort of protest. Quit trying to start a problem where there isn't one.

Now as for playing "Lift Every Voice an Sing". That's a seperate issue.

-- Posted by semosupporter on Tue, Feb 16, 2021, at 7:25 AM

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