Buffs fall despite second half comeback

MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Feb. 1, 2020) – After trailing for the majority of the second half, Nathan Hastings tied the game up with 14 seconds left, but it was not enough as the Milligan College men's basketball team fell to Point University 76-74 Saturday afternoon inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.

Entering the second half

Milligan and Point kept the game tight the entire first half with eight ties and six lead changes. The eighth tie came with a minute left in the first half but Point was able to add two more points to go into the second half leading 36-34. Point came out strong in the second half, as the Skyhawks went on a 20-6 run and extended their lead by as many as 16 points with 12 minutes left in the game.

Second half comeback

The Buffs began to chip away at Point's lead, starting with a 3-pointer by Micah Paulk. Hastings and Tyler Nichols scored two field goals after that to cut Point's lead down to 10. Paulk would then score another 3-pointer to cut Point's lead down to single digits and Nichols would score behind him to cut the Skyhawks' lead down to four.

Point worked their lead back out to nine points before Milligan was able to score eight points to cut the lead down by three with a minute left to play. Point was able to extend their lead back out to seven points but Nichols was able to score three points, and Bo Pless was able to make a 3-pointer with 29 seconds left to put the Buffs down by two.

Mike Featherston would then send Point's Lorenzo Freeman to the line where he would make both free throws with 22 seconds left. Down by four, Milligan was able to get the ball back down to their end where Hastings would sink a triple and draw a foul to put Milligan down by one with 14 seconds left. Hastings made his free throw to tie the game up 74-74. Freeman however answered back and scored for the Skyhawks with five seconds left. Milligan was able to get one final shot off as time expired, but a 3-pointer by Desean Green narrowly missed.

In the box score

Nichols led the Buffs with 17 points, 13 of which came in the second half and seven in the last two minutes of play. Jacob Cawood was behind him with 13 points and Green followed with 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Pless had nine points off of three triples and Paulk and Hastings had eight points, with Hastings tacking on four rebounds. Matt Cole had the second most rebounds for the Buffs with six.

Point was led by Freeman with 26 points and Sae'Quahn Rogers with a double-double recording 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Up next

Saturday's loss was the third loss for Milligan at home and the first of the 2020 half of the season. The Buffs will be on the road for the next three games, starting with Bluefield College on Feb. 5. Milligan only has two home games left, the first against Union College on Feb. 15, followed by St. Andrews for senior day on Feb. 22.