Miles (12-3, 9-1) closed out its two-week road docket to start the new year with two big wins over Kentucky State and Central State on consecutive nights to open a four-game cushion in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference West Division race. The Golden Bears erased double-digit deficits in both contests, running away from the second place Thorobreds in the second half on Sunday before outlasting the Marauders in a double overtime thriller on Monday.

MILES 64, KENTUCKY STATE 51

Kentucky State (8-7, 5-5) scored the first eight points of the game and led 21-9 with just less than nine minutes remaining in the opening half. But Alvin Miles (11 points) sandwiched two Rylen Walker (five points) baskets to start the comeback and as Chase Ballard scored inside the final 30 seconds of the half, the Golden Bears had knotted the score at 29.

The Golden Bears took the lead for the first time at 32-29 when Travarus Carroll (seven points, five rebounds) knocked down a 3-pointer less than 90 seconds into the second half. The Thorobreds would tie the score at 34 but Miles' defense started to turn the screws on KSU, which shot just 23 percent from the field in the second half and 31 percent for the game. Miles would methodically stretch its advantage and when Corey Trotter (13 points, six rebounds) converted a 3-point play with 7:17 to play, the Golden Bears had opened a 48-38 advantage.

The Thorobreds would bring the deficit back into single digits but that was short lived as Ballard (team-high 14 points) knocked down a 3-ball with 6:40 left to push the lead to 52-40. The Golden Bears would lead by as many as 18 points when Dorion Staples (five points, three rebounds) knocked down a jumper with five minutes to go.


MILES 82, CENTRAL STATE 81 (2OT)

Central State (7-11, 4-6) looked poised to win this contest at several points in the second half and overtime, but it was the Golden Bears who prevailed as they won their 11th straight game against the Marauders.

In the second overtime, CSU scored six straight points - the last four coming on buckets by Steven Key - to take a 81-76 lead with 2:10 left. But the Golden Bears remained calm in the choppy waters of the final period and slowly chipped away at the deficit. Alvin Miles sank two free throws with 75 seconds on the clock. Then, a steal by Najashi Tolefree (16 points on 7-of-7 shooting, eight rebounds) led to a bucket by Corey Trotter (four points, five rebounds, three assists) that trimmed the deficit to a single point. After a missed shot, Elijah Horton (eight points, six rebounds) grabbed the board and was fouled. He would make both free throws to put Miles ahead. The Marauders had the final possession and even after calling a time out, could only get up an off-balanced fadeaway 3-pointer by Brandon Scott which was well off the mark.
 
Miles trailed by 13 points less than two minutes into the second half but looked as if it was going to win the contest in regulation. Over the next seven minutes, the Golden Bears used a 17-3 run - culminated by a free throw by Alvin Miles - to take 50-49 lead at the 11:34 mark. With nine second left in regulation, Miles had a four-point lead but saw it melt away. Raevon Thomas hit a 3-pointer and Ballard missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Key (18 points, 10 rebounds) was fouled with no time remaining and went to the line to win the game. But he missed the first free throw before draining the second to send the game into the first extra period.

The first overtime played like a big-time boxing match, with both competitors feeling out their opponent looking for the right time to strike. Neither team lead by more than two points at any time but when Khalil Luster (18 points) scored with 42 seconds left, CSU had grabbed a 75-73 lead. On the ensuing possession, Alvin Miles (28 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals) missed a chance to tie but Ballard (eight points, four steals, three rebounds, two assists) was able to get a steal on the other end. With the ball back in Alvin Miles' hands, he was able to draw a foul and calmly sank both freebies to tie the game. Key had a chance, again, to win in the first overtime period but missed a shot at the horn.