EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE erased a 13-points second-half deficit Monday, but came up short in the final minutes, falling to Eastern Kentucky 78-74 at First Community Arena.

"The style of play and the tempo was as expected," SIUE Head Coach Brian Barone said. "Both teams kind of did what the other team expected in terms of sets and schematics. Unfortunately we came up four points short tonight."

SIUE fell to 7-10 overall and 5-6 in Ohio Valley Conference play. EKU is now 15-4 overall and 9-3 in the OVC.

The Colonels took a 10-point lead (43-33) into halftime after Wendell Green Jr. heaved home a three-pointer from 35 feet out at the buzzer. Eastern Kentucky pushed its lead to 13 points at 54-41 on a layup by Cooper Robb with 14:28 left. SIUE then scored the next eight points to pull within five points after Sidney Wilson's three-pointer made it 54-49.

EKU had a 66-54 lead with 8:38 left when SIUE proceeded on a 14-2 run to knot the score at 68 apiece on  Courtney Carter layup with 4:41 left.

That (effort) is going to continue to be a given for our program as we continue to get the culture to where we need it to be and I am proud of that," Barone added.

EKU pushed its lead to five thanks to SIUE turnovers on back-to-back possessions, and the Colonels never trailed in the game.

The Cougars came within two points at 76-74 with six seconds to play, but a pair of free throws from Green sealed the win for EKU.

"When we get to a point where the game can turn back into your favor is when you have to get that defensive stop; you have to challenge that three; you have to get that rebound."

Mike Adewunmi led SIUE with 23 points to tie his season high. He was 8-11 overall and 4-5 from three-point range.

"It was nice to see the ball go in for Mike because he hadn't shot it as well the last couple of days," Barone said of his senior.

Wilson scored 14 points and Shamar (11) and Lamar (10) Wright each finished in double figures for the Cougars, who were 26 for 55 (47 percent) from the field and 7 for 14 from three-point range.

Carlos Curtis added seven points and a career-high nine assists for SIUE, which finished with a season-high 20 assists as a team.

Green led EKU with 18 points. Tre King added 12 points. Curt Lewis scored 10 and grabbed seven rebounds. The Colonels forced 17 SIUE turnovers and scored 24 points as a result.

"We weren't terrible against the press itself," Barone said. I wanted to have 14 turnovers or less, but just two weeks ago, I am not sure we have only 17 turnovers. Unfortunately it is still too many."

SIUE, which just finished a season-long five-game home stand now has two days between games. They will next play on the road Thursday at Tennessee Tech.

"Our guys have taken (the schedule) as good as anyone could have or should have," Barone said. "These guys need a mental and physical break for sure."