EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE dropped its first home conference matchup of the season to UT Martin 76-71 Thursday at First Community Arena.

SIUE fell to 17-9 overall and 10-5 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Cougars remain one game out of first place in the OVC. UT Martin improved to 11-15 and 7-8 in conference play.

UT Martin jumped out on top early and enjoyed an 8-2 lead to start the game and kept the advantage for the first 7:00 minutes of game time.

The Cougars trailed by one midway through the first half when UT Martin drilled back-to-back three pointers to take a 30-23 lead.

SIUE followed with 10-2 run of its own sparked by a Brian Taylor three with 3:42 left in the half and punctuated by a Taylor layup. The Cougars led 43-37 at the break.

The Cougars opened the second half the same way it ended the first and enjoyed a 10-point lead 4:00 minutes into the second half on a Ray'Sean Taylor layup.

The Skyhawks would then take over with a 12-0 run over the next 6:00 minutes of game time.

UT Martin's biggest lead of the game came in the midst of a 9-0 run with 7:41 left to play on a Terance Guinyard three-pointer which extended the lead to 69-59.

SIUE bit into the lead and cut the deficit to five on a pair of free throws by Ring Malith.

After a flagrant 1 foul was assessed to the Skyhawks' Carlos Cortijo with 1:24 left to play, Ray'Sean Taylor connected on 1-2 from the free throw line.

Taylor missed a three-pointer on the ensuing possession which put it away for UT Martin.

Ring Malith recorded his second 20-point game of the season with 22 points and pulled down seven rebounds.

Brian Taylor II scored 16 points on 6-9 shooting from the field to go along with three rebounds and five assists.

Ray'Sean Taylor totaled eight points, three rebounds, and seven assists.

SIUE shot 25-61 (41 percent) from the field including 10-28 (36 percent) from three-point range.

The Cougars went 11-20 (55 percent) from the free throw line.

The Skyhawks connected on 24-58 (41 percent) of its shots and 11-26 (42 percent) from behind the three-point arc.

UT Martin shot 17-21 (81 percent) from the free throw line.

UT Martin outrebounded the Cougars 43 to 36.

SIUE will host Tennessee State on Saturday at First Community Arena with tip scheduled for 3:30p.m.