CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Jerome Jones poured in a career-high 31 points Thursday night, but it wasn't enough as Southeast Missouri defeated SIUE men's basketball 76-67 in front of 2,212 at the Show Me Center.

"For us the issue tonight was guarding the basketball and offensive rebounds," SIUE Head Coach Lennox Forrester said. "We didn't pay attention to personnel. It was a lack of concentration for us."

The Cougars fell to 8-12 overall and 4-6 in the Ohio Valley Conference. SEMO improved to 12-13 and 4-7 in the OVC. SIUE remains in second place in the OVC West, just ½ game ahead of SEMO and Eastern Illinois, which also is 4-7 in league play.

Jones scored 21 of his game-high 31 points in the first half. He scored 18 of the Cougars' first 23 points and helped SIUE to a 10-point lead in the game's first nine minutes. He drained four three-pointers in the half.

"Jerome really got us off to a good start," Forrester said. "He was the bright spot. He was fired up."

The senior connected on 11 of 21 shots from the field. Both totals established new career-bests for both totals. He finished with a career-high six three-point baskets in 10 attempts, also a new personal best.

SEMO battled back and tied the game at 26-26 on a three-pointer by A.J. Jones with 7:33 to play before halftime. Marland Smith connected on a three-pointer 40 seconds later to give the Redhawks a lead they would never relinquish. SEMO led 41-32 at halftime.

"We took some bad shots that let them back in," Forrester said. "We have to be a smarter team and a more disciplined basketball team if we want to win on the road."

The Cougars began the second half on a 10-3 run to cut the Redhawks' lead to 2 at 44-42 with 15:44 to play, but SEMO pulled away with a 13-0 run to take its largest lead of the night. Another three-pointer by Marland Smith made it 57-42 with 13:20 left. Smith finished three three-pointers to set a new career record at Southeast Missouri (220).

Kris Davis (13) and Mark Yelovich (11) were the only other SIUE players in double figures in scoring.

Nino Johnson turned in a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds to pace the Redhawks. Smith finished with 13 points. Tyler Stone scored 12 and A.J. Jones added 11 points.

Southeast Missouri shot 46.4 percent (26-56) from the floor for the game and outrebounded SIUE 42-35.

"For us to win games it has to come on the defensive end," Forrester added. "I didn't think we did a great job on the defensive end."

SIUE continues the road trip Saturday at UT Martin. The Cougars and Skyhawks will tip off in a noon game which can be seen on FOX Sports Midwest.

It's a huge game," Forrester said. "But every single one of our games down the stretch is going to be huge for us."