HOMEWOOD, Ala. -- The official start to the Fred Watson era at Miles won't come until Saturday. But if Wednesday's exhibition against Division I Samford is any indication, the Golden Bears could be in for a wonderful ride.

Miles opened an early seven-point advantage and led by four with seven minutes remaining before wilting in a 66-57 loss to the Bulldogs at the Pete Hanna Center. The Golden Bears missed their final nine shots of the game, which allowed Samford (4-0) to pull away. Jelani Watson-Gayle scored 11 of his team-high 14 points in the first half and Nathan Sheffield added 12 points off the bench to pace the Golden Bears.

Watson-Gayle nailed two 3-pointers and Jeffrey Dockett added another as Miles opened a 9-2 lead. Samford would ultimately open a seven-point advantage with just less than three minutes left in the first half but Sheffield and Watson-Gayle helped the Golden Bears close the half on an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 36-35 at the half.

The two teams would jockey for the lead early in the second half. But a 3-pointer by Sheffield followed by an Avery Brown bucket game Miles a 54-50 lead with 7:11 left. From there, though, Samford would dominate as it continually went to its 7-foot center Rueben Guerrero, who scored seven points during the game-ending 16-3 run for the Bulldogs. He finished the game with 26 points and 16 rebounds, 14 on the offensive end.

Brown scored 10 points and Rashawn Chapman added six points for Miles, which opens its regular season Saturday at Delta State. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.