Men’s Basketball wins at Montreat 88-84

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (December 12, 2023) – The Milligan University men's basketball team made several key plays down the stretch to earn an 88-84 win at Montreat on Tuesday evening.

The Buffs head into Christmas break with a 6-6 record and a 6-4 mark in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play. Montreat falls to 4-7, 3-6 AAC.

The Buffs and Cavs were tied at 73 with six minutes remaining in regulation after a pair of Montreat foul shots. After a Cavs turnover, Finn McClure scored to give Milligan a lead it would never relinquish. Follie Bogan converted a three-point play the next trip down the floor to push the Buffs 'lead to 78-73 with five minutes to go.

Montreat cut the margin to one (82-81) with two minutes left but Jay Hickman responded with four-straight points extend Milligan's lead to 86-81 in the in the final minute as the Buffs secured the 88-84 road victory.

The hosts jumped out to an early 8-3 lead but Milligan responded with a 13-1 run that featured a pair of threes by McClure and another trey by Lincoln Thomae. The Buffs led by as many as 11 (45-34) late in the first half but the Cavs battled back to take a 64-63 edge eight minutes into the second half.

Five different Buffs scored in double figures as the team shot 50.8 percent from the field. Bogan led the way with 29 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. McClure added 14 points and four rebounds.

Thomae chipped in with 13 points and six rebounds. Flynn Carlson had 12 points, two steals and three blocks. Hickman scored 12 points in his second appearance for Milligan.

The Buffs turned 15 Montreat turnovers into 24 points and held a 13-4 edge in fast break points.

Milligan travels to Trevecca Nazarene on Dec. 30.