Close games are often won at the free throw line and that came to fruition Monday night as Miles beat Lane 59-52 at Knox-Windham Gymnasium.

The win kept the Golden Bears two games ahead of LeMoyne-Owen in the loss column in the SIAC Western Division with four conference games remaining. After struggling with consistency from the charity stripe for most of the contest, Miles was nearly perfect down the stretch to secure the victory.

Lane led 26-25 at the half and the game was close throughout. When Lucious Brown scored with 8:40 left, it gave the Dragons a 40-35 advantage, which was the biggest lead for either team at that time. Miles still trailed 42-40 with 4:44 left when the Golden Bears took control.

After Lane's Dante Mitchell fouled Nathan Sheffield away from the basket, he was then called for a technical foul. First, Damian Archer made the two free throws for the technical foul, then Sheffield made his two free throws for the personal foul and a two-point deficit turned into a two-point lead, one that Miles would not relinquish for the remainder of the contest. From the point of the technical foul, the Golden Bears - who were just 9-of-16 on free throws at that time -- finished 15-of-17 from the charity stripe, taking a lead that was as large as eight points.

Brown had 11 points and Kendarius Ash had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Lane. Archer (15 points), LaByron Harris (14 points, nine rebounds), Jelani Watson-Gayle (10 points) and Rashawn Chapman (five points, 10 rebounds) were the top performers for Miles, which plays at Spring Hill on Thursday. Tip time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.