By JARRETT HOFFMAN

Miles, who has won the division three times in a row, defeated Kentucky State 73-69 in a game for full ownership of first place in the SIAC West.

Miles’ total record now stands at 13-3, with a 9-2 mark against the SIAC. It also extends their winning run against divisional opponents to 15 games, going back to last season.

Kentucky State falls to 9-4 overall and 8-3 in league action. They are still a half-game clear of Tuskegee, which fell tonight to Lane.

Off the bench, sophomore Makai Vassell led the Golden Bears with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Rodney Battle followed him with 18 points, five assists, and four boards.

Montrell Jacobs led Kentucky State with 17 points (all in the second half), with all of his goals coming from three-point range. Meanwhile, Shamon Mosely scored 14 points and grabbed six boards off the bench, and Kong Kong added 10 points and seven rebounds.

Miles seized charge of the game in the second half, going on a 23-9 run to establish a 14-point advantage with 10:43 left.

Kentucky State did everything it could to keep the game tight, cutting the Golden Bears’ advantage to one point in the final four minutes.

These two squads will meet again on February 4 in Frankfort.