OWENSBORO, Ky. - Freshman J.B. Jones hit six free throws in the final 30 seconds as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville defeated Kentucky Wesleyan 59-54 in Great Lakes Valley Conference men's basketball on Saturday.
         SIUE, 16-3 overall and a GLVC-leading 9-1 in league play, won for the first time in nearly 16 years at the Sportscenter. The last time was 1989, the same season SIUE last made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
         Jones led the Cougars with 16 points, including a 9-of-9 effort from the free throw line. He also had eight assists. Dan Heimos added 10 points and nine rebounds despite fouling out in the second half. Justin Ward also had 10 points for the victorious Cougars.
         Kentucky Wesleyan, 11-6 overall and 6-5 in the GLVC, defended its homecourt with pride, erasing as much as a 16-point, second-half deficit with a 22-5 run in the second half to take the lead at 47-46.
         SIUE regrouped after leading most of the game, including 31-23 at halftime.
         Tim Bauersachs scored his only four points on back-to-back scores from the paint to give SIUE a 50-47 advantage with 3:36 to play.
         Antonio Bright, who had 15 points for the Panthers, pulled KWC within one at 50-49 with a layup at 3:08.
         SIUE answered with Anthony Jones' only three-pointer of the game to take a 53-49 lead. Franklyn Ferguson, who led all scorers with 17 points, cut SIUE's lead to three by hitting one of two free throws. SIUE and KWC went back and forth in the final second, but it was J.B. Jones' six free throws that gave the Cougars the win.
         The Cougars now head back home to the Vadalabene Center. SIUE faces a return game with Northern Kentucky on Thursday. Tip-off time is 7:30 p.m.
                  -siue cougars-