ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- Miles had season-highs in points, field goals made and 3-point field goals Thursday night against Claflin in its first conference road tilt of the season. But the Panthers led the entire contest, making nearly 64 percent of its 3-point attempts as they handed the Golden Bears a 97-91 loss at Tullis Arena.

Four players scored in double figures for the Golden Bears (2-9, 1-3 SIAC), led by Sheldon Wright's season-high 27 points, and they shot 50 percent from the field. But the Panthers (15-1, 8-0) opened an early double-digit lead and was able to find an answer for each Miles comeback attempt. It was the 14th straight win for Claflin, which brought an end to Miles' modest two-game win streak.

Claflin hit six of its first eight field goal attempts - including all four of its 3-pointers - to open a 16-4 lead less than five minutes into the contest. But Miles would not wilt, seemingly knowing that on this night, its best defense was going to be a good offense. Jeffrey Dockett (20 points) scored three times in four trips to get the deficit back into single digits but the Panthers would continue firing from long range.

During one 3-minute stretch midway through the first half, the Golden Bears would score eight points on 4-of-5 shooting. But during that run, Claflin's Benjamin Williams knocked down three 3-pointers to extend the Panthers' lead. When Tondric Johnson drained his own 3-ball with 5:37 left in the first half, the Panthers had a 36-21 lead - their largest of the game - and Miles looked to be in deep trouble.

Miles, though, would show it could shoot it from deep as well. Nathan Sheffield, Carl Garcia, and Chris English nailed 3-pointers on consecutive possessions as part of a 15-4 run over the next three minutes to cut the deficit to 40-36. But the Panthers would still take a 47-39 lead into the half. Williams would make all five of his field goals for Claflin during the first 20 minutes - all of them 3-pointers - as the Panthers went 10-of-16 from behind the arc.

The second half was much the same for both teams. Miles would get close before Claflin would find a way to extend the lead. The Golden Bears made one final push late. A 3-pointer by Dockett with 2:38 remaining finished an 11-4 run and got Miles to within 88-84. But the Panthers would make 9-of-16 free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

Garcia (15 points, six rebounds, five assists), Sheffield (12 points, six rebounds, five assists), and Aron Stewart (eight points, six rebounds) had solid efforts for Miles, which plays next at Benedict on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.