Miles ran its win streak over Spring Hill to 13 consecutive games Monday night with a 73-65 win over the Badgers at Knox-Windham Gymnasium. But the outcome was in doubt until the final minute of the game for the Golden Bears, who scored the final eight points of the contest to avert the upset bid.

The Golden Bears never trailed after the first eight minutes of the game. But they weren't able to truly pull away from the game Badgers squad. Miles led by just three points with four minutes remaining but Bo Barber drained a 3-pointer to tie the game for Spring Hill. Mykayle Carter answered with his own 3-ball to put Miles back in front before Steven Lyles answered with another 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to knot the score at 65 with 2:43 to go.

Eddie Smith, though, had the final say. His jumper with 55 seconds left put Miles ahead for good. He and Chase Ballard (four points, seven assists) would make all six free throws inside the final 30 seconds to secure the victory.

Miles went a different route to get to the end of the road against the Badgers. Leading scorer Rodney Battle played the opening three minutes but after two turnovers, he was pulled from the contest and did not return. But Carter and Yasim Hooker - who were both regular double-digit scorers last season - had throwback efforts that kept the Golden Bears in front.

Hooker was on automatic when he came off the bench in the first half, making 7-of-8 shots from the field. Miles was down by five points early but he brought some offensive energy that helped get points on the board. His thunderous slam on a breakaway gave the Golden Bears their first lead at 12-11. He got free for another layup, then slammed another one down on an ensuing possession to keep Miles in front at the midway point of the first half. Meanwhile, Carter started to get hot from deep. He drained three 3-pointers in the opening half, the last coming with less than three minutes left before the break to push the Golden Bears to a 31-26 lead.

Spring Hill got a late bucket from Tana Kopa (10 points) to close the half down 37-31. But as he scored, he injured his ankle and one of the top scorers in the SIAC was done for the game. Carter, though, was not and he kept firing away for Miles. He opened the second half with a 3-pointer for a nine-point advantage and when he drilled another 3-ball with 17:21 to go, the Golden Bears led 45-38. The sophomore guard was 6-of-8 from beyond the 3-point arc for a season-high 18 points. Still, Spring Hill kept battling.

Smith (14 points) knocked down consecutive 3-pointers for Miles, which still led by seven points with 5:52 remaining. But Barber and Beril Kabamba ran off seven straight points over the next two minutes to tie the game, setting up the late-game sequence. Hooker had 16 points, five rebounds, four steals and two blocks, and Makai Vassell had 10 points and six assists for Miles, which plays next at Central State on Thursday. Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m.



Isaiah Veal had 14 points and Kabamba added 11 points and 13 rebounds for Spring Hill.