Men’s Basketball downs Bluefield 66-58

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (February 9, 2023) – The Milligan University men's basketball team earned a 66-58 victory over Bluefield on Thursday evening at the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.

The Buffs' win moves Milligan's record to 10-14 on the season and 10-11 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) action. Bluefield falls to 9-16, 8-13 AAC.

The two teams exchanged baskets through the game's first five minutes before Bluefield put together a quick 10-0 spurt on four consecutive possessions to lead 15-7 with 13 minutes to play in the half. The Rams maintained a nine point lead (19-10) through the midway point of the half before Milligan responded with a run of its own.

Julian Wilson and Matthew Roberts accounted for six points on three straight possessions to get back within one possession (19-16) with eight minutes to play in the half. Drew Greene stepped into a transition three to tie the game at 19 at the 7:37 mark.

The teams battled back and forth as the score was tied at 21, 23, 25 and 27 before Levontae Knox gave Milligan 29-27 lead going into the final two minutes of the half. Flynn Carlson blocked two shots on the same possession and collected a defensive rebound and was fouled late in the half. He made one of two free throws to give Milligan a 30-27 edge. A three-point play on Bluefield's final possession tied the game at 30 going into the halftime break.

A Bluefield foul shot opened the scoring in the second half but the Buffs quickly built an eight point lead over the next four minutes. Finn McClure drained a three, Dylan Bartley sank a layup and Sami Sanad scored four points to put Milligan ahead 39-31. McClure added another triple and a layup to push Milligan's advantage to double-digits (44-33) with 15:46 left.

The Rams worked back to a five-point game (44-39) with 14 minutes left before Jackson Gabriel sank a three and Wilson converted a layup. The Buffs maintained a two-to-three possession edge for the next 10 minutes before Bluefield closed the margin to 59-56 with three minutes left in regulation.

Bartley drew a shooting foul at the end of the possession after the Rams got back within three and made both free throws to put the Buffs up 61-56 with 2:51 remaining. After a Bluefield missed shot, Bartley drilled a three to push Milligan's advantage to 64-56 with just over two minutes left. The Buffs held Bluefield off the scoreboard in the final 1:15 to escape with the win.

All 11 players who saw the court for the Buffs scored in the contest. Bartley led the way offensively for Milligan with 15 points. McClure and Wilson had eight points each. Carlson had seven points, eight rebounds and two blocks.

The Buffs notched 17 assists on 22 made baskets and finished plus-12 from the three-point line.

Milligan travels to St. Andrews on Saturday for a 2:00 p.m. tipoff.