Men’s Basketball season ends in AAC tournament

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (February 22, 2023) – The Milligan University men's basketball team ended its season in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) tournament opening round as the Buffs fell 81-69 to ninth-seeded Truett McConnell at the MeadowView Marriott in Kingsport.

Milligan concludes its season with a 12-16 record, doubling the Buffs' win total from last winter. Truett advances to face No. 3 Union in the AAC quarterfinals. The Bears' record rose to 13-16 with the postseason win.

After a slow offensive start for both teams, Sam Gold tied the game at eight with a three-pointer with 12:42 left in the first half. The Buffs reeled off a quick 10-0 run with layups by Gold and Piripi Korent and back-to-back three-pointers by Jackson Gabriel to lead 18-10 midway through the first half.

Threes from Gabriel and Finn McClure grew Milligan's lead to 24-13 with just under eight minutes to play in the half. The Buffs led by 11 (30-19) with just over five minutes to play when TMU embarked on an 14-3 spurt to tie the game at 33 with a minute to play in the half. The Bears converted the final basket of the half to take a 35-34 lead into halftime.

The teams exchanged the lead back and fourth over the first five minutes of the second half before Truett McConnell took a five-point lead (49-44) seven minutes into the half. The Buffs trimmed the deficit to two (52-50) with 10:47 left after threes by Korent and Dylan Bartley. The Bears scored the next seven points to open a 59-50 edge with 8:49 remaining in regulation.

The Buffs worked back within four (59-55) after a pair of free throwls by McClure and a tip-in by Flynn Carlson. The Bears' lead grew to 67-57 with under five minutes to play. A three-point play by Korent brought the Buffs to down six (73-67) with two minutes left. TMU reponded with a three-point play of its own and a slew of made free throws to ice the game.

Sanad finished with 14 points. Korend had a dozen points and Gold had 11 points and five rebounds.

The Buffs shot 52.1 percent from the field but were outrebounded 40-29 and lost the turnover battle 18-12. Milligan's bench outscored TMU 24-10.