COLUMBIA, S.C. -- After blowing a double-digit first half lead and falling behind by seven points midway through the second half, Miles turned to its defense to spur the comeback.

The Golden Bears held Benedict without a basket for more than seven minutes midway through the second half and went on an 18-1 run to take control of the contest in a 76-63 win Saturday afternoon in the SIAC opener for both teams. Avery Brown and Jelani Watson-Gayle both scored 24 points for the Golden Bears (5-1, 1-0 SIAC West), who held the Tigers (3-4, 0-1 SIAC East) under 36 percent shooting from the field.

Miles led 32-31 at the half but Benedict scored the first seven points of the second half to take the lead. Deon Joyner (14 points) split two free throws with 12:47 left and the Tigers held a 48-41 advantage. But it was at that point that the Benedict offensive spigot was shut off by the Golden Bears and a deluge of Miles 3-pointers washed away the deficit.

Brown, Frank Royles and Watson-Gayle nailed 3-balls on consecutive possessions to put Miles in front 50-48. Royles got loose on a breakaway dunk, Watson-Gayle made two free throws and drained another triple while Brown knocked down another jumper and Royles made two free throws. During that time, Benedict still had not made a field goal. The Tigers missed eight straight shots and turned the ball over three times as the Golden Bears opened a 61-49 advantage with 5:55 left.

Benedict would get back to within eight points, but Watson-Gayle still had some shots holstered in his long-range bazooka and he hit the target twice more, opening the Miles lead to 71-55 with 2:22 to go as he knocked down his sixth 3-ball of the contest. The Golden Bears would go 11-of-18 (61 percent) from downtown, including an unconscious 6-of-7 in the second half. They would shoot 58 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes and 51 percent for the game.

Joseph Staton had 23 points and Aboubacar Camara added 13 points to lead Benedict. Royles had 15 points, Richard Feagin had 6 points and 6 assists and Umar Frost had a game-high 10 rebounds for Miles, which plays at Paine on Monday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.