Defense rests in loss at Lane
Box Score
JACKSON, Tenn. -- Miles had hoped to put together consecutive wins with a victory over Lane Monday night.
But the Golden Bears had trouble getting stops against against the Dragons, especially in the second half, as Miles dropped an 84-65 decision to Lane at J.F. Lane Gymnasium.
Aron Stewart had a career-high 17 points but it was the defense that could not get stops at critical junctions in the ball game.
Stewart made his first two shots of the game to give the Golden Bears a 4-2 advantage but would be the only lead they enjoyed all day. Once Lane took the lead for good, Miles was able to cut the deficit to four on a couple of occasions. But the Dragons would twice answer with 3-point field goals and after a Kendarius Ash (17 points, 17 rebounds) dunk, they went into the half with a 40-30 lead.
Lane shot 50 percent in the first half and did more of the same in the second, quickly opening a 14-point advantage. Miles continued to fight, as evidenced by a thunderous one-handed dunk by
Carl Garcia that cut the deficit to 46-40 less than four minutes into the final half. But the Golden Bears could never find consistency on offense and the defense never had the answer as the Dragons shot 65 percent from the field in the second half.
Maurice Alexander scored 27 points for Lane while
E. Reginald Smalls (14 points) and
Sheldon Wright (nine points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals) paced the Golden Bears, who host Spring Hill Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
