Men’s Basketball edged by City Valley State in Big Island Holiday Classic third-place game

HILO, Hawaii (December 19, 2022) – The Milligan University men's basketball team overcame an 11-points second half deficit to take a lead in the final 90 seconds but a few clutch plays delivered City Valley State to an 81-78 victory on Sunday evening at the Big Island Holiday Classic third-place game in Hawaii.

The Buffs fell to 4-8 on the season while Valley City State, an NAIA school from North Dakota, advanced to 7-7.

After a competitive first half, VCSU took a 47-43 lead into halftime. The Buffs narrowed the margin to two points (53-51) in the first four minutes of the second half but Valley City State used a 12-3 run to extend its lead to 65-54 with 13 minutes remaining.

The Buffs' turned up the defensive intensity and held the Vikings without a point for nearly nine full minutes as Milligan scored 11-straight points to lead 69-67 after a three-pointer by Sam Gold with four minutes to play.

After the Vikings tied the game, Sami Sanad put the Buffs ahead 71-69 with a jumper and Dylan Bartley extended Milligan's edge to 73-69 with two free throws with 1:38 left. VCSU responded with a three-pointer and dunk in the Vikings' next two trips to retake a 74-73 lead in the final minute. Valley City State knocked down seven free throws after taking the late lead to secure the three-point victory.

Bartley scored a career high 29 points with six three-pointers and seven rebounds on the day. Bartley was named to the Big Island Holiday Classic all-tournament team following the contest.

Gold had 13 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Jackson Gabriel made his season debut and scored 11 points in 10 minutes of action, knocking down three treys on the evening. Sanad recorded nine points, seven rebounds and five assists.

The Buffs made a season high 12 three-pointers and matched a season best at 40 percent from deep. Milligan outrebounded VCSU 43-31 but the Vikings won the turnover battle 25-13.

Milligan returns to action in the new year at Johnson (Tenn.) on Jan. 3.