ALBANY, Ga. -- Miles forced four turnovers, allowed just 73 yards passing and held the advantage in time of possession for the first time this season. Despite all of those things, as well as holding the lead at the half, the Golden Bears fell 30-24 to Albany State on Saturday night at the ASU Coliseum.

After falling behind by two touchdowns, Miles (0-5, 0-1 SIAC West) mounted a fourth-quarter comeback but could not get a fourth down stop that sealed the win for the Golden Rams (2-3, 2-0 SIAC East). The loss keeps the Golden Bears winless on the season and marks the first time the team has dropped its first five games of the season in 25 years. The team also has not lost six straight contests (dating back to last season) since 2007.

Running back Justin Hardy, playing for the first time since the opening week, rushed for 157 yards on 31 carries while linebacker Austin Stephens had 10 tackles and an interception to pace the defense. But after holding Albany State to just seven points in the first half, Miles could not contain the Golden Rams rushing attack, which racked up nearly 200 yards and three touchdowns over the final 30 minutes.

Miles got off to a good start as Jackson Spradlin connected on a 33-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. It was his first career field goal and the first make in six tries this season for the Golden Bears special teams. But a Daniel Smith interception, which bounced off receiver LeAnthony Robinson, was returned to the 3-yard line. ASU quarterback Kelias Williams punched it in on the next play to give the Golden Rams their first lead.

Aided by a big 41-yard run by Hardy, Miles moved 57 yards in just under two minutes right before halftime, with Smith (163 yards passing) connecting with PaDarius Martin (41 receiving yards) on a 29-yard scoring pass that gave Miles a 10-7 lead it took into the half. It was Martin's first career catch and the first scoring pass Smith threw to someone other than Leonard Tyree this season.

The halftime advantage was short lived. The Golden Rams broke off two big runs in the first three plays of the third quarter, the last a 20-yard touchdown run by Kelan Fraise that gave Albany State a 14-10 lead and Miles would play from behind the rest of the contest. After another Golden Rams touchdown, the Golden Bears would try to mount a comeback, starting with a 3-yard scoring run by Hardy that cut the deficit to 21-17 at the end of the third quarter.

Albany State, though, would up the lead to 30-17 with 8:35 left when Williams scored on an 11-yard run. Miles would respond with its longest scoring drive of the season, moving 86 yards on 12 plays. Santee Marshall scored his first career touchdown on an 8-yard run that brough the Golden Bears within six points with 2:58 left. Unfortunately, Miles would never get the ball back. After picking up 10 yards on a 3rd-and-11 play, ASU went for it on fourth down. The Golden Bears defense got a good push up front but the Golden Rams did just enough to get the first down before running out the clock.

Malik Campbell had a game-high five catches for 49 yards and Mikhail Jacobs led the Golden Bears with 59 yards receiving. Defensively, Maxel Wells had seven tackles, Jaylun Thomas had seven tackles (two for loss), Gregory Matthews had six tackles and N'Ktavious Floyd had six tackles and two forced fumbles for Miles, which hosts Central State for Homecoming on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.