Men grind one out in win over Tuskegee
Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Miles has been one of the highest scoring teams in the SIAC this season but was not even able to muster 60 points Monday night in its regular season final against Tuskegee.
But the Golden Bears, despite scoring their second-fewest points in a game this season, matched their season-low in points allowed with a 59-56 win over the Golden Tigers at Bill Harris Arena.
Joshua Samuels (11 points) hit a 3-pointer with just over a minute to go to give Miles (16-12, 14-5) Â the lead for good and secure the No. 2 seed from the Western Division for next week's Basketball Championships. The victory also helped this team match the win total from the last three seasons combined.
It was quite a struggle on senior night for Miles, which trailed 26-24 at halftime and found itself down by nine points with just less than 11 minutes remaining in the game when Daniel Roach drained the last of his four 3-pointers on the night. But the Golden Bears turned the screws on defense, allowing just one basket over the next nine minutes.
E. Reginald Smalls (10 points) drilled a triple with 3:30 remaining and when
Maiscei Grier (eight points), knocked down two free throws, it gave the Golden Bears a 52-51 advantage with 2:19 to go.
Tuskegee, though, came back. Camden Foster connected on a 3-pointer with 78 seconds to go to give the Golden Tigers a two-point advantage before Samuels - who was mired in foul trouble most of the second half - answered with three of his own to retake the lead. Grier and Samuels would knock down all four free throws to close out the win for Miles.
Roach led all scorers with 12 points while Elijah McMillan and James Eads each had 10 for Tuskegee.
Joshua Johnson had 11 points, four rebounds and four steals and
Eric Halliwell had five points, eight rebounds and two steals for Miles.
