LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – SIUE men’s basketball fought back from a double-digit deficit Thursday, but fell short at Little Rock, losing 60-56 in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both schools.
The Cougars slipped to 7-5 overall. Little Rock improved to 7-5.
The Trojans used a 16-2 run to end the first half with an eight-point lead, 30-22. SIUE trimmed the lead back early in the second half when Desmond Polk finished a layup to make it 35-31.
Little Rock followed with a 9-0 run for its largest lead of the game at 44-31 with 13:19 to play. The Cougars didn’t get back within four until the 2:25 mark thanks to a Ring Malith jumper. Little Rock extended the lead again and led by nine (57-48) with 1:03 left.
Desmond Polk cut the lead to six with a three-pointer before a Little Rock free throw made it seven. Ray’Sean Taylor was fouled shooting a three and hit all three free throws to cut the lead to 58-54. Another free throw by the Trojans made it a five-point game before Taylor was fouled again and sank both free throws with nine seconds left.
Tuongthach Gatkek missed a free throw on the next possession and Brian Taylor II rebounded, pushing it ahead for Ray’Sean Taylor, who fired a three from the top of the key, which appeared to be blocked out of bounds. After review, the determination was made that the ball wasn’t tipped, turning it over to Little Rock instead.
The Cougars forced a timeout when Little Rock was unable to get the ball in bounds the first time. After successfully inbounding the second time, Ante Belijan was fouled and hit one of two free throws for the final margin.
Ray’Sean Taylor led SIUE with 18 points on three three-pointers and a nine-for-nine performance at the free throw line. Brian Taylor II followed with 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Malith, Polk and Arnas Sakenis each scored seven points.
SIUE connected on just 32 percent (19-59) of its shots overall and 8 of 28 from three-point range.
Mwani Wilkinson scored 16 points to lead Little Rock. Jonathan Lawson added 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The Trojans outrebounded SIUE 41-39 in the game.
SIUE, which came into the game as the OVC’s best team in terms of assist-to-turnover ratio, turned the ball over 14 times while recorded just eighth assists.
The Cougars will travel to Southeast Missouri for a 3:45 game against the Redhawks Saturday.
