Men’s Basketball edged at Tennessee Wesleyan

ATHENS, Tenn. (January 6, 2022) – The Milligan University men's basketball team battled back from a double-digit first half deficit to take the lead in the second half but fell 83-78 in the final minutes at Tennessee Wesleyan on Thursday evening.

The Buffs fall to 2-11 and 1-9 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play. Tennessee Wesleyan remains atop the AAC standings at 11-3, 8-2 AAC.

The Bulldogs established a 10-0 lead through the first five-plus minutes of the contest before Levontae Knox converted a layup with 14:11 to play in the first half. TWU led by as many as 12 points before Milligan started to chip away at the double-digit deficit.

Piripi Korent scored seven straight points and scored nine points overall in a 16-6 run that brought the game back to a single possession. Jackson Gabriel drained a three and Knox added another inside bucket to pull within two (20-18) with nine minutes to play in the first half.

TWU stayed a step ahead, scoring after the Buffs got within two three separate times following the Milligan run. A three from Josh Thomas with 5:22 left in the half made it a three-point game (30-27).

The Bulldogs scored on four straight possessions to push theirs lead to double-digits (39-29) with 1:56 to play in the half. Korent scored the final basket of the half as the Buffs went to the half trailing 39-31.

Sami Sanad scored eight points in the first five minutes of the second half to help the Buffs draw back within one (47-46). Thomas followed Sanad's spurt with a three to give the Buffs their first lead of the evening at 49-47 with 14:54 to play in regulation. Gabriel and Trevor Hensley followed with threes of their own as the Milligan lead stretched to five (55-50) with 13 minutes to go.

Korent drained a three to keep the Buffs' ahead 64-60 after TWU battled back within one with nine minutes left. The Bulldogs scored the next seven points, but Gabirel responded with a triple to tie the game at 67 at 7:25. Sanad scored on the next trip down the floor to give the Buffs a 69-67 edge with seven minutes to play.

After TWU went ahead 73-71 with five minutes left, Knox put in back-to-back layups and Gabriel canned his fifth three of the night to give Milligan a 78-73 edge with 3:52 remaining.

After a TWU basket and foul on a three-pointer, the Bulldogs tied the game at 78. The hosts took a 80-78 lead with just over two minutes left in regulation. Milligan extended a pair of late-game possessions with offensive rebounds, but was unable to tie the game or take the lead. The Bulldogs converted three foul shots in the final minute to secure the win.

Knox posted 18 points, 12 rebounds and three assists. Korent scored a career high 16 points on six-of-eight shooting. Gabriel connected on five threes for 15 points and Sanad had 14 points and a career high 11 rebounds.

The Buffs shot 50.0 percent from the field and knocked down nine-of-19 threes (47.4 percent).

Milligan starts a six-game homestand next Tuesday against Union.