JACKSON, Tenn. -- For the fourth straight game, the Miles men's basketball team found itself in an extremely tight game in the final minutes. For the ninth straight contest, the Golden Bears found themselves on the right side of the final score.

Despite seeing an eight-point second half lead evaporate, Miles was able to withstand a late charge by Lane, taking a 65-63 win in its regular-season finale. Four players scored in double figures for the SIAC Western Division champion Golden Bears (21-5, 16-4), who have now won nine consecutive games against the Dragons (11-16, 8-12).

Lane got off to a hot start, scoring the first nine points of the game and not allowing a field goal until Chase Ballard dropped one in at the 12:42 mark of the first half. But the Golden Bears would have their own 9-0 run, getting baskets from Corey Trotter, Mykayle Carter, Truitt Spence and Alvin Miles to take a 16-14 lead four minutes later. Miles would close the half with another 9-0 run, capped by a Trotter putback at the horn to give Miles a 31-24 lead at halftime.

The Dragons would go back in front early in the second half and the teams would exchange the lead multiple times before Miles used another big run to go back in front. Rylen Walker (11 points, seven rebounds) nailed a big 3-pointer, then added two free throws to cap an 11-2 run to give the Golden Bears a 59-51 advantage with 2:45 to go. That looked like it would be plenty enough after Ballard (10 points, three assists) drained two free throws with 10 seconds remaining to give Miles a 65-61 lead. But disaster nearly struck. Floyd Williams scored five seconds later and Miles turned the ball over in the Lane end, leaving room for one more opportunity for the Dragons. But Darrell Johnson missed a short jumper in the lane and Miles was able to escape with the two-point win.

Johnson had 19 points and Jeremiah Foster had 11 points and 12 rebouns for Lane. Miles scored a game-high 22 points and Trotter added 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds for the Golden Bears, who will open the SIAC Championships next week in Savannah, Ga.