Golden Bears stay undefeated in SIAC play
Box Score MOBILE, Ala. -- When your team averages more than 90 points per game, it is not hard to believe that the offenive exploits get a lot of attention.
But after Miles downed Spring Hill College 73-56 Monday night to snap a two-game skid, it showed that the team's defensive effort will be just as important if the team wants to win a SIAC championship. The Golden Bears (5-4, 3-0 SIAC) have allowed almost 98 points per game in non-conference tilts but has given up less than 57 points per contest in winning its first three league battles.
Four players scored in double figures for the Golden Bears.
Joshua Johnson had 11 points and a season-high 10 assists,
Shaquille Cook and Josh Samuels each had 15 points and
Maiscei Grier had 11 points for Miles, which led by as many as 20 points. Sawyer Glick had a game-high 20 points to pace the Badgers (1-7, 0-2).
The game was tied at 13 before Miles got the room it needed. A 13-4 run, punctuated by a 3-pointer from Grier, gave the Golden Bears a 26-17 advantage with 3:34 left befor halftime. Thanks to a layup by Samuels inside the last 20 second, the halftime lead was 38-25. Miles shot a swealtering 60 percent from the field but it was the defense contesting shots and making life miserable for the Badgers, who shot 36 percent from the field and turned the ball over eight times.
Consecutive 3-pointers by SHC cut the deficit back to single digits to start the second half. But a backbreaking, 6 1/2 minute jaunt put the game well out of reach.
Eric Halliwell (eight points, five rebounds) started the run with a dunk, Samuels drained a 3-pointer in the middle, and Halliwell sandwiched it with another bucket taht gave the Golden Bears a 51-31 lead with 13:05 left. The Badgers missed all four of their shots and turned the ball over three times as Miles was able to coast to victory from there.
The Golden Bears are back in action on Wednesday when theytravel to take on Eckerd College. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
