Buffs rally to win at KCU

Milligan, Tenn. (February 6, 2022) — The Milligan University men's basketball team defeated Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opponent Kentucky Christian University 74-70 Sunday evening. Despite getting outscored 34-23 in the first half, the Buffs dominated the second half 51-36 to secure the victory.

Milligan climbs to 5-16 (4-14 AAC) with the win while Bluefield falls to 4-16 (4-14 AAC) with the loss.

KCU quickly got out to an 11-3 run to start the game. The Knights took advantage of a couple of early Milligan turnovers turning them into easy baskets at the other end. A 14-6 run over a six minute stretch gave KCU their biggest lead of the first half; 14 (34-20). Three late free throws from the Buffs trimmed the Knights lead to 11 going into the break. Neither team scored a point over the last minute and a half first.

Piripi Korent put together a very solid performance in the first half scoring nine points on three-of-six shooting from the field and converting three-of-four from the free throw line. In addition to leading the Buffs in scoring, Korent also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. As a team, Milligan shot just 26 percent on eight made field goals in the first half and made only one three pointer out of seven attempts from behind the arc. 

The Buffs erased the 11-point halftime deficit with a 16-6 run over the first seven minutes of the second half to tie the game at 40. 

With just over two minutes remaining in the game, Trevor Hensley connected on a three point shot off a Sami Sanad assist to extend the Milligan lead to double-digits (68-58), their largest of the game. KCU reeled off a 9-2 run in the final minute of regulation to cut the Buffs lead down to two (72-70) with ten seconds remaining. After the Knights were forced to foul, Hensley iced the game going two-for-two from the charity stripe to extend the Buffs lead to two possessions. A missed layup by KCU at the buzzer secured the win for Milligan 74-70.

Hensley led the Buffalo offensive attack with a team-high 20 points on six-of-13 from the field and three-of-five from behind the arc. Fifteen of Hensley's 20 came in the second half. Korent finished second with 14 points on four-of-eight from the field and five-of-six from the free throw line. Josh Thomas grabbed a team-high nine rebounds including two clutch boards in the final minute. Thomas finished with eight points as did Sanad.