Jerome Jones scored 20 points to guide Southern Illinois-Edwardsville to an 83-68 victory over Tennessee Tech in an Ohio Valley opener Thursday night.
Kris Davis added 19 points, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range, for the Cougars (3-7).
Mark Yelovich had a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Corey Wickware scored 12 points with nine assists.
Jud Dillard had 24 points and nine rebounds for the Golden Eagles (8-6), who made it to last season's conference championship game. Zach Bailey scored 16 and Zac Swansey 10.
Jones hit 8 of 11 shots to pace the Cougars, who shot 52 percent (30 of 58).
Southern Illinois-Edwardsville gained the momentum by breaking a 27-27 tie with a 13-2 spurt late in the first half.
The Cougars led 44-33 at the break and prevented the Golden Eagles from getting closer than six in the second half.
