MARTIN, Tenn. – UT Martin overcame a 14-point first-half deficit, while SIUE nearly did the same thing in the second half. In the end, the Skyhawks outlasted the Cougars 85-82 Saturday at the Elam Center, ending SIUE's five-game winning streak.

The Cougars are 12-7 overall and 5-3 in Ohio Valley Conference play. UT Martin also is 5-3 in the OVC and 9-10 overall.

The Cougars used an early 8-0 run to lead 11-3 at the first media timeout in the first half. SIUE pushed its lead to 27-13 after a jumper from Jordan Pickett with 11 minutes to play in the first half.

From there, UT Martin used an 18-3 run to lead 31-30. A three-pointer by Ring Malith tied the game at 36 all with 23 seconds left before halftime. On the ensuing play, the Skyhawks got a three-pointer from Josue Grullon as time expired to lead 39-36 at the break.

UT Martin scored the first eight points of the second half to lead 47-36 just three minutes in and then pushed the lead out to 56-42 at 13:27. It was 59-45 with 12:45 left when SIUE made a push.

The Cougars used a 16-5 stretch to get within three at 64-61 after two free throws from Ray'Sean Taylor with 8:16 left. They would get it all the way down to 73-72 thanks to a three-pointer from Brian Taylor II with 3:30 left.

The Skyhawks went up five before two more free throws from Ray'Sean Taylor. Valdimer Salaridze hit a pair of fouls shots to extend the lead back to five before another three-pointer from Brian Taylor.

SIUE got it back to 82-81 after two free throws from Malith with seven seconds to play, but that is as close as the Cougars would get.

Ray'Sean Taylor paced the Cougars with 23 points. He was 4-8 shooting and 13-14 at the free throw line. Brian Taylor scored 19 points and 6-9 from three-point range. Malith scored 14 points. He was 7-8 at the free throw line. Jordan Pickett scored 12 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting night off the bench.

The Cougars shot 54 percent (23-43) overall, including going 12-18 (67 percent) from the field in the second half. SIUE drained 12 of 23 (52 percent) three-point attempts and 24-29 (83 percent) shots at the free throw line.

UT Martin was 28-51 (55 percent) shooting and 12-28 (43 percent) from the arc. Salaridze led the way with 16 points. Grullon scored 14.

SIUE returns home for a pair of games next week at First Community Arena. The Cougars will face Southern Indiana Thursday and Morehead State Saturday.