MELBOURNE, Fla. -- Miles men's basketball coach Leon Douglas has brought many of his basketball teams to Florida to play some tough games in preparation for a run towards a conference title. In the four years he has coached the Golden Bears, it has brought cohesiveness and chemistry, even if it had not earned any wins.

That all changed, though, on Tuesday afternoon. After watching a double-digit lead evaporate in the second half, Miles fought back to earn a 72-67 win over Lynn at the Clemente Center during the final day of the Florida Tech Winter Classic. The win was the first of the season for Miles (1-8), which won for the first time in 11 tries during the annual pre-holiday trip to the Sunshine State.

Sheldon Wright, who was the top returning scorer this season for the Golden Bears but had struggled to get on track this year, played his two best games of the season during the Winter Classic and was red-hot against the Fighting Knights (4-6), hitting 9-of-12 from the field for a game-high 23 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists. As a team, Miles shot a season-high 55 percent from the floor and - just as important - held Lynn to 32 percent shooting, which was also a season's best.

The game started as many Miles games have this season, with the Golden Bears pulling out to an early lead. But instead of wilting, the team continued to expand the lead. A 13-2 run midway through the first half, which included six points by Carl Garcia (nine points, six rebounds), pushed the advantage into double figures and a Damian Archer free throw with 3:38 left in the first half gave Miles a 27-14 lead - the biggest of the game.

Lynn would cut its deficit to 33-27 at the half and used a 9-0 run early in the second half to take a 38-36 lead. Miles trailed 42-38 with 11 minutes left and it looked like the Knights were set to send the Golden Bears to another defeat.

But Miles had another scoring spurt ready. Aron Stewart, who played all 40 minutes and had 11 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots, started the run with a basket. Miles would get 3-pointers from Wright and Garcia sandwiched around an Archer basket as part of a 10-1 run that game the Golden Bears a 48-43 lead. Miles would lead a 55-45 with just less than seven minutes left and a victory seemed inevitable.

The Knights, though, would continue to battle and ultimately tie the game at 59 with 2:13 left. Finally, Miles would put a cap on the contest with a 9-0 run that put the game out of reach. The Golden Bears, who entered the contest making just 55 percent of their free throws, made all eight of their attempts in the final minute to seal the deal.

Archer had 12 points, Jeffrey Dockett added 11 points and Robert Jones had four points and a game-high 10 rebounds for Miles, which is off until Dec. 30, when it hosts Paine. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.