On Monday night, Miles held a 16-point lead in the second half over an opponent that it had not lost to in seven years. The best team in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference looked to be on cruise control en route to another dominant victory.

But in a contest that featured the league's highest scoring team against its stingiest defensive squad, a walk-in-the-park game turned into late-night barn burner. Spring Hill ramped up its scoring output and forced overtime before Miles was finally able to subdue the surgent Badgers 83-80 at Knox-Windham Gymnasium. It was the sixth straight win overall for the Golden Bears (15-3, 12-1 SIAC West) and 16th consecutive victory over the outfit from Mobile.

Spring Hill (7-12, 5-8) led for only 77 seconds for the entire game, all of that coming during the first 12 minutes of the game. Miles built a solid lead in overtime but the Badgers still had a chance to send the game to an additional extra period but missed a 3-pointer at the horn to close out the win for the Golden Bears, who shot 49 percent from the field overall and made 5-of-8 shots during the crucial overtime period.

A 3-pointer by Rylen Walker with 9:51 left in regulation gave Miles a 16-point cushion, matched when Dorion Staples split two free throws for a 58-42 lead 40 seconds later. It looked as if the Golden Bears would add to their collection of five wins this season by at least 20 points. But the Badgers started to get warm from the outside, draining four 3-pointers of their own down the stretch. The last came from reserve guard Jaden Emory, whose 3-ball with 1:04 remaining in the second half tied the game at 66. 

Corey Trotter would score on the other end for Miles to retake the lead with 38 seconds left on the clock but Emory was fouled on the other end, leading to two free throws that tied the game again. The Golden Bears had an opportunity to win in regulation, but Trotter was long on his jumper and Najashi Tolefree's tip-in try was unsuccessful.

The Golden Bears got off to a fast start in the extra period. Walker (seven points) scored on the opening possession, then a 9-2 run gave Miles what seemed like a comfortable 79-72 advantage with 2:29 left after Tolefree and Travarus Carroll (eight points, five rebounds) scored on consecutive possessions. It was still a seven-point lead when Alvin Miles (seven points, six rebounds, three assists) scored with 48 seconds left, but Spring Hill had a final push that took the game to the final seconds.

Walter Peggs, Jr. - the leading scorer in the SIAC at more than 25 points per game - got a bucket and Steven Lyles - currently fourth in scoring - got a steal and score on the inbound pass with four seconds left to cut the deficit to two points. Chase Ballard (six points, six assists) missed the first free throw before draining the second, which set up the last-ditch effort for the Badgers.

Peggs had 19 points, Lyles scored 15 points and Emory added 14 points for Spring Hill. Tolefree (18 points on 8-of-12 shooting, eight rebounds), Trotter (15 points, seven rebounds) and Elijah Horton (12 points,four rebounds, three assists, two blocks) led the charge for Miles, which hosts Lane on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.