Miles used a scorching second half to turn a close game into a blowout, earning a 76-52 win Monday night over Kentucky State at Knox-Windham Gymnasium. The Golden Bears (12-3, 6-1 SIAC West) shot 50 percent from the floor in winning their sixth straight contest, which matches a season-high.

Miles' biggest deficit was two points and it never trailed after the first three minutes of the game. But the Thorobreds (4-9, 2-5) stayed within shouting distance throughout the first half. They were as close as three points with less than three minutes remaining in the first half and went into the break down 32-27 thanks to 42 percent shooting from the floor and an advantage on the glass.

But the Golden Bears put an end to any ideas of an upset once the second half began.

Six straight points to open the second half, the last two on free throws from Joel Logan (nine points, six rebounds), put the lead in double figures for the first time. After a KSU bucket, Yasim Hooker scored seven straight points of his own as part of an 11-1 run over the next three minutes. Anthony Fairley (eight points, five rebounds) would score the last four points during the stretch, two of them on an alley-oop from Brandon Miller, and Miles led 49-34.

That was one of several dunks for the Golden Bears, with Hooker and Mykayle Carter joining in on the aerial fun. Carter, who scored a career-high 20 points, knocked down two free throws with 6:46 remaining to push the lead to 20 points, 62-42, and the Thorobreds would not get any closer. The large spread allowed for everyone to get into the contest for the Golden Bears, and no matter who was on the floor they were knocking down shots. Patrick Rucker came in and made two shots late - one a sharp-looking layup with his back to the basket - as part of a 60-percent shooting effort from the floor for Miles in the second half to help the lead balloon as high as 29 points.

Montrell Jacobs (game-high 21 points) was the only person to score in double figues fro Kentucky State. Yasim Hooker scored 17 points and Elijah Horton had six points, three rebounds and three assists for Miles, which hits the road to play Spring Hill on Saturday. tip-off is set for 3 p.m.