SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Two big runs in the second half broke a halftime deadlock and helped Miles to a 68-55 win over Savannah State on Saturday afternoon at Tiger Arena. Four players scored in double figures for the Golden Bears (6-2, 3-0 SIAC West), who have won seven of the eight contests against the Tigers (3-4, 1-2 SIAC East) since they rejoined the conference in 2019.

The game was tied at 28 after the first half and the teams traded the lead in the early portion after the break. But a 10-1 run - ignited by an Alvin Miles layup and finished with a two layups from Chase Ballard  (10 points, three steals) and short jumper by Najashi Tolefree (six points, three rebounds)  - gave the Golden Bears a 41-34 lead with 13:30 remaining. Savannah State went nearly four minutes without a field goal but it got worse later as Miles took control.

The Tigers were still within six points with just more than 11 minutes left when a quick Miles spurt put SSU in a bigger hole. Miles got four buckets within a two-minute span and Travarus Carroll had a hand in each of them. He fed Corey Trotter for the first basket, fed Dorion Staples twice on the run out, then finished with a dime to Trotter for a 3-ball to close a 9-0 run that gave the Golden Bears a 55-40 advantage with nine-and-a-half minutes to go. It gave Carroll a season-high eight assists (to go with four points, four rebounds, and two steals) and staked Miles to its biggest lead of the contest.

Savannah State never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way. The Tigers shot a shade under 29 percent from the field and went ice cold from beyond the 3-point arc in the second half (1-of-7). After shooting a pedestrian 44 percent from the field in the first half, Miles picked it up over the final 20 minutes, shooting 58 percent from the field and finished at 51 percent for the game.

Qua King had 20 points for Savannah State and was its only play to score in double figures. Trotter (16 points on 6-of-7 shooting, seven rebounds), Miles (12 points, six rebounds, two assists) and Staples (11 points) each had nice performances for the Golden Bears, who are back in action on Dec. 14 at Benedict. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.