BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -  Miles shoots the fewest free throws in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference - by a wide margin -  but makes them at the second-best rate in the league. It begs the question of what might happen if the Golden Bears found their way to the free throw line more than the 15 times per game that they did coming into Saturday's battle against Tuskegee.

The Golden Tigers - and the rest of the SIAC - found out on Saturday. The Golden Bears shot 34 free throws - and made 29 of them - en route to another dominating performance, running away from Tuskegee 67-44 at Bartow Arena. Miles (14-3, 11-1 SIAC West) have opened a commanding 4.5-game lead in the West Division race with its fifth consecutive win and ninth victory in its last 10 contests. While the free throw numbers were glaring, it did not take away from another sparkling defensive performance that saw the Golden Bears - the No. 2 scoring defense in Division II - allow its fewest points in a game this season.

Miles has shown the ability to switch into overdrive on the defensive end at any time this season and Tuskegee (8-9, 6-5) got a first-hand lesson. The Golden Tigers led 15-3 less than eight minutes into the game. But after starting the game 6-of-9 from the field, Tuskegee's shooting percentage dropped lower than the recent temperatures. They missed 15-of-16 shots and turned the ball over five times in scoring just four points the rest of the half.

Meanwhile, the Golden Bears continued to chip away. Despite making just six shots from the field, Miles was able to make its way but drawing fouls and heading to the free throw line. They took 25 shots from the field but 19 from the charity stripe and made 16 of them. Even as the 3-point shooting was off (just 1-of-11 in the first half), it was a 3-ball from Chase Ballard with 4:46 left in the first half that gave Miles a 20-19 lead. Tuskegee never led again.

The Golden Bears closed the first half on a 12-0 run to lead 29-19 at the break. The Golden Tigers cut the deficit to nine points early in the second half but a bucket by Najashi Tolefree (10 points, four rebounds) at the 18-minute mark put the lead in double figures to stay. A 9-0 run midway through the half - started with a bucket from Alvin Miles (11 points, four assists), included a 3-pointer from Rylen Walker (six points) and concluded with a bucket by Ballard - gave Miles a 51-31 advantage with 8:24 to play.

Kusamae Draper had 16 points as the only player in double figures for Tuskegee. Ballard had a team-high 13 points, while Dorion Staples (10 points, six rebounds), Corey Trotter (three points, game-high 14 rebounds) and Elijah Horton (eight points, nine rebounds) all contributed to the big win for the Golden Bears, who host Spring Hill on Monday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.