Men’s Basketball knocks off (RV) Union 105-93

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (November 21, 2023) – The Milligan University men's basketball team toppled perennial Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contender Union 105-93 in the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse on Tuesday evening.

The Buffs rise to 3-2 on the season and 3-2 in AAC conference play. The Bulldogs, who received votes in the latest edition of the national rankings, fell to 4-3, 4-2 AAC. The victory marks Milligan's first triumph over Union since 2019.

Follie Bogan and Luke Lentz carried the Buffs early as the duo combined to score Milligan's first 21 points. After trailing 6-5 in the early going, Bogan made a pair of foul shots and Lentz converted back-to-back three-pointers to give the Buffs a 13-6 edge five minutes into the contest.

Bogan scored eight-straight points for the Buffs as Milligan's lead grew to 21-13 at the 13-minute mark of the first half and a McCaskill Rivers layup gave the Buffs a 10-point lead (23-13). The teams traded baskets until a Bogan three and a fast break layup by Lincoln Thomae extended Milligan's lead to 41-25 with six minutes to go in the half.

Union worked back within 11 before a Pip Korent slam dunk and a Bogan jumper put the Buffs back up 15 and Korent scored in the closing seconds to send the Buffs to the locker room with a 52-37 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs would not go down quietly as Union narrowed the margin to six points (57-51) within three minutes of play in the second half. Lentz responded with a five-point run on a made three-pointer and a pair of free throws.

With nine minutes to play Milligan's lead was reduced to a single possession (74-71). Bogan drained a three at the 8:26 mark and successfully completed a four-point play two minutes later to put the Buffs up 85-77.

Union pulled within six on four separate occasions and each time the Buffs answered with the next basket. Milligan made six-straight free throws in the final 90 seconds and Bogan punctuated the win with a windmill jam on a fast break in the closing moments.

Bogan finished with 38 points, eight rebounds and four assists. His point total is the highest for a Buff in a single game since Mickey Woods dropped 45 points against Berea in 2013.

Lentz made four threes and four foul shots on his way to 18 points. Finn McClure had 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Rivers added 12 points and four rebounds.

Thomae used four offensive rebounds to score nine points and notched three steals. Korent had eight points and three assists.

Both teams shot the ball extremely well. Milligan was 49.3 percent from the field and made 10 threes at 41.7 percent. Union was 50 percent rom the field and made nine threes at 40.9 percent. The Buffs had a 27-12 advantage in made free throws.

Milligan outrebounded Union 39-33 on the evening.

The Buffs take on Shawnee State on Friday in THE SHOW at the MeadowView Marriott in Kingsport.