EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Ray'Sean Taylor's season-high 24 points wasn't enough to over come five Morehead State players in double figures as the Eagles outlasted the Cougars 67-58 Thursday at First Community Arena.

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for SIUE who fell to 14-6 overall and 5-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Morehead State improved to 11-9 overall and 4-3 in the league.

"We played hard and we stuck together," SIUE Head Coach Brian Barone said. "There was a level of frustration throughout the game. You feel like you string two or three plays together and it is still an eight or nine point game."

Morehead State connected on 56 percent (14-25) of its shots and drained six three-pointers to build a 10-point lead at halftime.

The Eagles pushed their lead to as many as 13 several times in the second period. The Cougars got as close as six (58-52) with a three from Taylor with 1:09 to play. Taylor hit another triple with 27 seconds to play to make an eight-point game. He was fouled on a three-point attempt and hit all three free throws with 15 seconds to play to make it a seven-point game.

Morehead State hit all eight of its free throw attempts in the final 45 seconds to seal the victory.

"We just couldn't turn the corner when we needed to," Barone said. "They executed when they needed to. We just didn't win today. They beat us."

Taylor finished 7 for 17 from the field and 5-11 from three-point range. He was 5-5 at the free throw line.  

"It was two teams playing hard," said Taylor. "Sometimes we were aggressive and they were aggressive right with us."

DeeJuan Pruitt finished with 11 points and nine rebounds. He was 3-3 at the free throw line.

SIUE was a perfect 11 for 11 at the line. The Cougars shot just 38 percent (20-52) from the field. Morehead State finished at 22-46 (48 percent) including going 9-19 from three. The Eagles were 14-17 at the line.

Mark Freeman's 15 points led the way for MSU. He was 6-6 at the free throw line. Jake Wolfe scored 13 points. Kahlil Thomas and Branden Maughmer each scored 11 points and Drew Thelwell added 10 points.

SIUE remains home to entertain Southern Indiana on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.