KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Ray'Sean Taylor connected on eight three-pointers on his way to his second career 30-point game as SIUE men's basketball scored a convincing 79-60 win at Western Michigan Friday.

It is the second consecutive road win for the Cougars who improved to 3-2 overall. Western Michigan fell to 1-3.

Taylor was 11-20 overall shooting and went 8 for 16 from three-point range to become SIUE's most prolific three-point shooter. Taylor has now made 224 three-point baskets for his career, surpassing Jason Homes, who had 222 career three-pointers from 1993-1997.

The eight three-pointers in a single-game is the most by a Cougar in the Division I era, and one shy of the all-time single-game record of nine three-pointers. 

The 30-point outing tied Taylor's career high and moved him to 1,412 points for his career. He is just the fourth player ever at SIUE with at least 1,400 points.

The Cougars never trailed in the game, pushing their lead to double digits (15-4) within the first five minutes. WMU never got as close as single digits in the first half and a Taylor three-pointer at the halftime buzzer gave SIUE a 43-29 advantage.

The Broncos did make a push following halftime, using a 15-7 start to the half to cut the Cougar lead down to 50-44. It was 52-46 when SIUE used an 8-0 surge to take a double-digit advantage for good.

The SIUE lead swelled to as many as 22 when Taylor's final three-pointer of the game went down for a 79-57 lead with 2:06 left.

Desmond Polk scored a career-high 16 points for the Cougars. Brian Taylor added 10 points. Darrion Baker scored four but chipped in a career-high nine rebounds.

SIUE outrebounded Western Michigan 38-37 for the game.

The Cougars shot 55 percent in the first half and 49 percent (31-60) for the game. SIUE used 14 three-pointers to overcome a large disparity in free throws. SIUE was 5 for 8 at the free throw line while Western Michigan was 26-37.

The Broncos shot just 30 percent (16-54) overall and knocked down only two of 13 (15 percent) attempts from long range.

Owen Lobsinger led WMU with 16 points, eight of which came at the free throw line.

The Cougars continue play at the Bronco Classic with Canisius Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. CT.