MOBILE, Ala. -- Chase Ballard has been more of a facilitator in his career at Miles, running the offense, finding open guys, playing stout perimeter defense. But that has changed this season, and Spring Hill found out in a big way on Monday night.

The junior guard was unstoppable in the second half scoring 20 of his career-high 23 points over the final 20 minutes to push Miles past Spring Hill 86-76 at the Outlaw Recreation Center. It was the Golden Bears' 17th straight win over the Badgers, who lost both games to Miles this season and are now 2 1/2 game back in the SIAC Western Division race.

The seed to the second-half offensive explosion from Ballard was sewn at the buzzer in the first half. Miles had led by as many as nine points in the opening half but found itself tied before Ballard nailed a 3-pointer at the horn to give the Golden Bears a 34-31 lead going into the break. After entering the season as a career 25-percent 3-point shooter (including 12 percent last season), he has made 57 percent of his 3-balls during this campaign. The Badgers were going to get more looks at his increased acumen in the second half.

Spring Hill cut the deficit to one point early in the second half before Ballard and Mykayle Carter (10 points) drained 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to help Miles open a 40-33 lead less than three minutes in. Less than three minutes later, Ballard drilled another triple as he was fouled. His free throw conversion pushed the Golden Bears lead to eight points. A mid-range jumper three minutes after that sparked a 7-0 run that pushed the Miles advantage to 57-43 with 10:21 left in the contest.

Ballard was not the only one getting buckets in the second half as Miles was hot from the field. The Golden Bears shot 68 percent from the field in the second half and scored 52 points, making it a lot more difficult for Spring Hill to splice the deficit

With Ballard hot from the outside, Spring Hill tried to tighten the perimeter defense on him. That opened lanes to the basket and he took advantage, twice driving for layups and both times pushing the Miles lead back into double digits.The last was with 5:43 to go and giving the Golden Bears a 67-57 edge.

The final dagger game with 3:34 to go. Ballard got open again and drilled his fourth 3-pointer of the night without any misses to give Miles a 72-59 lead. The Golden Bears shot 40 percent from behind the 3-point line in the game. Just as alarming, Ballard did not miss a shot in the second half, making all five of his attempts, three of them behind the 3-point arc, and all five of his free throws, the last four coming in the final 30 seconds as he and Corey Trotter closed out the game from the charity stripe.

Timothy Reilly had 18 points and Bo Barber added 15 to lead Spring Hill. Trotter (21 points, nine rebounds, three steals) and Alvin Miles (17 points on 8-of-12 shooting, five assists) had big nights for the Golden Bears, who next host Kentucky State on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.