Men’s Basketball secures season sweep over Tennessee Wesleyan

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (February 6, 2024) – The Milligan University men's basketball team put up 52 first-half points and held off a second-half charge by Tennessee Wesleyan to secure a 92-73 victory on Smith-Harris Court in the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening.

Milligan collects a season sweep over the Bulldogs and rises to 11-10 on the season and 11-8 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) league play. TWU falls to 9-12, 9-11 AAC.

Follie Bogan made his first four three-point attempts in the opening four minutes of action as Milligan raced out to a 16-4 lead. The Bulldogs scored the next two baskets but the Buffs responded with an 11-0 run to lead 27-8 seven minutes into the ballgame.

A Jaz Johnson triple gave Milligan a 20-point edge (30-10) just past the midway point of the first half. Threes by Sam Gold, Johnson and Bogan grew Milligan's edge to 28 (50-22) late in the period and the Buffs led 52-28 at halftime.

Nine minutes into the second half Milligan led by 19 (68-49). The Bulldogs rallied back with a 14-3 run to make it an eight-point game (71-63) with six-and-a-half minutes left. TWU moved within seven (75-68) with under five minutes to play but Lincoln Thomae found Jay Hickman to a three to push the margin back to 10. The next possession, Thomae grabbed an offensive rebound and found McCaskill Rivers for a layup to go ahead 80-68 with four minutes to go.

Hickman drilled a dagger with three minutes remaining as Milligan led 83-69. The Buffs outscored TWU 9-2 over the final minute to come away with the 19-point win.

Bogan finished with 35 points and eight rebounds. Riveres added 13 points. Hickman had 11 points with three made three-pointers. Thomae had a double-double with 10 points, 10 assists and five rebounds. Johnson hit two threes off the bench and had eight points in nine minutes.

The Buffs finished plus-seven in the turnover margin (15-8) and had 22 assists on 35 made baskets. Milligan shot 49.3 percent from the field and made 11 threes at 35.5 percent.

The Buffs head to CIU on Saturday.