MARTIN, Tenn. – UT Martin connected on a season-high 57.8 percent of its shots and turned 15 SIUE turnovers into 19 points Saturday en route to a 77-68 win over SIUE in Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball at the Elam Center.

"We just didn't come out with the intensity, either offensively or defensively, and the focus and toughness that we needed to garner a win today," SIUE Head Coach Lennox Forrester said.

The Cougars dropped to 8-13 overall and 4-7 in the OVC with the loss. UT Martin swept the season series between the two schools and improved to 7-17 overall and 4-8 in the OVC.

"You cannot go on the road in this conference or any conference in the country and not compete," Forrester added. "You don't have your fans or your family on the road, you have to bring your own energy and we didn't do that today."

SIUE got off to a good start and led 11-7 on a layup by Tim Johnson with 12:50 left in the first half, but UT Martin got a pair of three-pointers from Mike Liabo on back-to-back possessions to go ahead 13-11. The Cougars tied the game twice more in the first half, but never led again in the game. 

Jerome Jones buried a three-pointer at the first half buzzer to make it 37-30 UT Martin at the break.

SIUE got baskets from Mark Yelovich and Johnson on its first two possessions in the second half to cut the Skyhawks' lead to three at 37-34. UT Martin pushed the lead back to six before another three by Jones made it 47-44 UT Martin with 15:10 to play in the game.  A 16-3 run by the Skyhawks opened up a 16 point lead (63-47) with 7:10 to play.

Jones led SIUE with 18 points, including four three-pointers. Kris Davis added 15 points. Davis dished out seven assists for the second consecutive game. Mark Yelovich scored eight points and led SIUE with nine rebounds. Ray Lester chipped in a career-best eight points and grabbed five rebounds.

For the game SIUE outrebounded UT Martin 36-26. The Cougars limited the Skyhawks to just three offensive rebounds, while hauling in 16 of their own, which led to a 21-4 edge in second-chance points.

UTM's Myles Taylor led all scorers with 23 points. Taylor was five of six from the floor and 13-17 at the free throw line. Terrence Smith (16 points) and Liabo (15) were the only other Skyhawks in double figure scoring.

The Cougars next have a three-game home stand to finish the home schedule. The stretch begins with a Thursday game against Murray State at 7 p.m.

"We just have to work," Forrester said. "It's just about guys showing up and being ready to compete."