Buffs drop AAC matchup with Bryan 75-62

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (January 18, 2022) – The Milligan University men's basketball team dropped an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matchup with Bryan College 75-62 Tuesday evening at Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.   

Milligan falls to 2-12 (1-11 AAC) after the loss while Bryan adds on to their win total for the season now sitting at 13-5 (10-4 AAC).   

Bryan's Noah Mulaski opened the contest with three three-pointers in the first two minutes of play to give the Lions a 9-0 advantage. Sami Sanad kept Bryan from establishing a double-digit lead with back-to-back baskets.  

A Jackson Gabriel three trimmed the deficit to 17-13 with 14:30 to go in the first half and a Trevor Henlsy triple brought the Buffs within two (19-17) with 11 minutes to play in the period.   

Bryan built its lead up to 11 (34-23) with a pair of free throws with 5:37 left in the half. The closest the Buffs came the rest of the half was seven as Bryan carried a 39-32 edge into halftime.   

The Lions darted out to a quick 5-0 run with a layup on their first possession followed by a made three pointer on their second. Levontae Knox put a stop to the run answering with a 5-0 run of his own knocking down a three-point shot from the wing followed by a nifty layup off an aggressive drive to the basket.   

At the 16:24 mark, Bryan extended its lead to double digits on a made three-point shot. From that point, Milligan was unable to bring the Lion lead back to within single digits after coming up empty on the offensive end of the floor numerous times in the second half.  

The Buffs shot 39 percent (11-of-28) from the floor and three-of-11 from behind the arc in the second half alone. One key area for the Lions was their advantage on the glass. Bryan outrebounded Milligan 41-30 for the game and 21-15 in the second half.  

Offensively for Milligan, Hensley scored a team-high 12 points followed by Sami Sanad with 10. Finn McClure, in his first game back from injury, finished tied with Levontae Knox with a team-high four rebounds. Knox chipped in seven points and three assists on the offensive end for the Buffs.  

One positive the Buffs can carry with them into the next contest is the production off the bench. Milligan outscored Bryan 28-19 in bench points led by Adam Graham who ended the night with eight points and two three-pointers.   

Milligan hosts CIU on Thursday in the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse at 7:30 p.m.