Tripp leads Buffs over Bluefield

BLUEFIELD, Va. (Feb. 15, 2021) – After outscoring Bluefield by 20 points in the second half, the Milligan University men's basketball team came away with a 78-69 road win Monday night in a rescheduled Appalachian Athletic Conference contest. David Tripp led the Buffs with 26 points and a career high 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.

The win was Milligan's third in the last 11 days and saw the Buffaloes finish the game with the last nine points. Milligan also won by nine the last time these two teams met last November.

Big second-half runs

Milligan trailed by as many 11 in the first half and by 13 early in the second half before a 10-0 run brought the Buffs back within three. Jackson Gabriel scored seven points on the run, including a made 3-pointer to bring the deficit to single digits.

After eventually getting the game tied with 10 minutes to go, Milligan and Bluefield stayed within two possessions of one another until the game's final tie of 69-69 with 1:35 left. From there, made field goals from Josh Thomas, Tripp and Levontae Knox, plus made free throws from Finn McClure and Gabriel, helped Milligan finish on a 9-0 run.

That game-ending 9-0 run was part of a 49-27 run for Milligan over the last 17 minutes.

Statistical tallies

Tripp was the first of four Buffaloes in double figures for scoring. Thomas, Gabriel and Knox all chipped in with 12 points. Jeffrey Selden scored nine.

McClure scored three points alongside six rebounds, six assists and three steals. Thomas also registered six rebounds.

Up next

Milligan finishes the regular season Wednesday with a home game against Montreat. The game can be followed online via milliganbuffs.com.