MARTIN, Tenn. — In a thrilling encounter on Saturday night, Vladimer Salaridze made a significant impact by scoring 16 points, contributing to UT Martin’s narrow triumph of 85-82 over SIU-Edwardsville.

Salaridze demonstrated impressive shooting accuracy, hitting 5 of his 8 attempts and going 2 for 3 from three-point range, while also maintaining perfection at the free-throw line with 4 of 4. The Skyhawks, now boasting a 9-10 overall record and a 5-3 standing in the Ohio Valley Conference, were supported by Josue Grullon who netted 14 points on 5 of 11 shooting, including 2 for 5 from beyond the arc. Matija Zuzic also played a crucial role by contributing 12 points with a shooting percentage of 57%, making 4 of 7 attempts, three of which were successful from three-point distance.

For the Cougars, Ray’Sean Taylor was the standout performer, leading the team with 23 points to go along with two steals. Teammate Brian Taylor II added 19 points and provided five assists, while Ring Malith chipped in with 14 points. This loss for SIU-Edwardsville halted their impressive five-game winning streak, bringing their overall record to 12-7 and matching their conference record at 5-3.

Looking ahead, UT Martin will hit the road for a matchup against Tennessee State on Tuesday. Meanwhile, SIU-Edwardsville is set to host Southern Indiana on Thursday, as both teams look to improve their standings.