Dragons Burn Miles Late
Box Score JACKSON, Tenn. -- When your basketball team has only won two games all season, it is tough to find a silver lining, especially when the losses continue to pile up.
A difficult season saw another heartbreaking ending Thursday night when Terrance Bridgeman drained a jumper with 12 seconds left to give Lane a 71-70 win over Miles. It was the sixth straight defeat for the Golden Bears (2-21, 1-15 SIAC), who have now lost nine games in which they held a lead in the second half and seven losses have been by six points or less. This loss was equally disappointing because Miles led by as many as 14 points, and for the second time in less than two weeks, lost a game in which they had a lead with less than 30 seconds to play.
Maiscei Grier had a game-high 21 points for Miles and his basket with 20 seconds remaining had given the Golden Bears a 70-69 lead before Bridgeman (game-high 23 points) knocked down the game-wiinner for the Dragons (11-10, 10-5). The way Miles played in the early portions of the game, though, made it appear that the game would ever be that close late.
The Golden Bears used a 14-0 run in the first half to seize a 10-point advantage. They would lead 33-23 at halftime and when
Patrick Jackson (eight points) knocked down a jumper at the 16:10 mark of the second half, Miles held a commanding 43-29 advantage - the biggest of the contest. But Lane went on its own ferocious run, outscoring Miles 16-2 over the ensuing four minutes. When Donald Stewart drained a 3-pointer at the 11:17 mark, the Dragons had taken a 47-46 lead.
Miles still had more left in the tank. It would respond with another run, this one 12-3, and
Tavin Cummings (11 points) would score with 7:57 to go to give the Golden Bears a 58-50 lead. But the Miles defense could not keep Lane at bay, allowing the Dragons to shoot 61 percent from the floor in the second half after holding them to less than 30 percent shooting over the first 20 minutes.
Stewart scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Lane.
William Gray (11 points) and
Aron Stewart (eight points, 10 rebounds, five blocked shots) contributed for Miles, which is back in action on Saturday when they travel to play Kentucky State. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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