WILBERFORCE, Ohio -- Miles nearly let a 14-point second half lead slip away but a late bucket by Nathan Sheffield helped the Golden Bears escape with a 63-60 win over Central State Monday night at Beacom/Lewis Gym.

The win closed out the conference portion of the schedule for the Golden Bears (17-8, 14-4 SIAC), who had already won the Western Division and a No. 1 seed in next week's league tournament. The Marauders (6-22, 4-14) finished at the bottom of the West Division and were swept by Miles this season. But that did not stop CSU from nearly completing a stunning comeback.

The Golden Bears never trailed. They led 31-23 at halftime and when Jeffrey Dockett drained 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions early in the second half, Miles had opened a 37-23 lead. With 18 minutes still remaining in the contest, there was no time for the Golden Bears to stop attacking...and they didn't. A 3-pointer by Jelani Watson-Gayle (eight points, four assists) with 6:23 to go gave Miles a 57-46 advantage.

With just less than three minutes remaining, a Damian Archer (eight points) bucket staked Miles to a seven-point lead. But the Marauders started to charge. A 3-pointer by Dorian Crutcher and a layup by Tom Johnson brought CSU to within 61-60. But Sheffield (team-high 13 points) collected an Archer miss and put it back in for a three-point advantage with 13 seconds left. Martin Oliver's 3-ball to tie did not fall and the Golden Bears headed back to Alabama with the win.

Crutcher had 17 points and Johnson added 16 to lead Central State. Devonte Fuller had nine points and LaByron Harris added seven points, 15 rebounds and three blocks for Miles, which closes out the regular season hosting Oakwood on Thursday. Tip time is 7 p.m.