Men’s Basketball falls to first-place Pikeville

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (January 13, 2024) – The Milligan University men's basketball team scored 59 points in the second half but could not overcome an 11-point halftime deficit as the Buffs fell to Pikeville 97-84 on Smith-Harris Court in the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse on Saturday evening.

The Bears entered the matchup in first place in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) and exit with a 15-4 record and 13-2 AAC mark. Milligan moves to 7-8 on the season and 7-6 in AAC action.

Prior to the contest Milligan alumni Sonny Smith ('58) and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Del Harris ('59) were honored with a ceremony to name the basketball court, Smith-Harris Court.

Pikeville used an early 9-0 run to establish a 14-4 lead five and a half minutes into play. The Bears led by as many as 15 points (26-11) before the Buffs began to climb back into the game.

Jay Hickman kickstarted an 8-0 spurt with a three and capped it with a lay-in to make the margin 27-22 with five minutes left in the half. The Buffs trailed by four (29-25) with three minutes left in the period but Pikeville scored the final 10 points of the half to carry a 39-25 lead into the break.

The Bears led by as many as 19 points (59-40) seven minutes into the second half. After back-to-back threes by Sam Gold and Hickman, Milligan got back within 10 (72-62) but was never able to trim the margin to single-digits.

Milligan outscored Pikeville 59-58 in the second half but was not able to overcome the 14-point halftime deficit.

Hickman poured in a season high 27 points as he shot 10-of-13 from the field and five-of-seven from deep. Lincoln Thomae had 17 points, three rebounds and three assists. Gold finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Follie Bogan had 14 points, five rebounds and six assists.

Both teams shot over 50 percent for the game. Milligan was plus-two in the turnover margin (12-10) and had 34 bench points.

Milligan heads to Union next Saturday.