Men’s Basketball takes down Johnson for key AAC win

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (February 17, 2024) – The Milligan University men's basketball team picked up a key 89-84 victory over Johnson (Tenn.) on Smith-Harris Court in the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.

The Buffs entered the game two games back of Johnson in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) standings and with the win rise to 12-12 on the season and 12-10 in AAC action. Johnson falls to 14-11, 13-9 AAC. With two games left in the regular season, the Milligan in sixth place in the league standings, one game behind Johnson and half game back of Bryan (13-10 AAC).

Both teams shot over 50 percent from the field in a high-scoring opening half. Back-to-back threes by Lincoln Thomae and Follie Bogan gave the Buffs an 11-point edge (16-5) five minutes into the contest.

Johnson roared back from a 23-13 deficit with a 15-0 run to take a 28-23 lead at the midway point of the first half. Consecutive three-pointers by Thomae halted the spurt and Finn McClure's trey tied the game at 32 with seven minutes remaining in the period.

A late 10-2 run put Milligan ahead 44-40 with under two minute to play in the half. Johnson was assessed a pair of technical fouls in the final minute of the period as Milligan took a 46-45 lead into the half.

Johnson took the lead twice early in the second half and led 55-53 four-and-a-half minutes into the period. Bogan drained a three and McClure had a putback to give the Buffs a 58-55 edge and lead the rest of the way. Milligan's 61-59 lead grew into a 72-63 edge thanks to an 11-4 run that was capped by a McCaskill Rivers three. Thomae scored five-straight points with a three and a tip-in to grow Milligan's lead to 77-65 with 7:31 left in regulation.

Johnson made a late push and worked back within three at 82-79 with just under three minutes remaining. Bogan responded with a contested jumper on Milligan's next possession. The Royals scored on an offensive rebound to bring the score to 84-81 under two minutes left.

Milligan drained nearly a full minute of game time on its next possession as Rivers grabbed two offensive rebounds and Flynn Carlson capped the extended possession with two made foul shots to lead 86-81 with 1:05 to play. Bogan made three free throws in the final minute as the Buffs held on 89-84.

Bogan finished with 33 points, six rebounds and three assists. He shot 12-of-24 from the field and four-of-nine from three. Thomae had 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Rivers added 17 points and seven rebounds. McClure recorded 15 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Both teams shot over 50 percent for the game as Milligan shot 53.3 percent. The Buffs hit a dozen threes at 48.0 percent and had 20 assists in the game.

The Buffs travel to Bluefield on Wednesday.