Buffs Men’s Basketball gets Second Victory at Florida College Classic over Webber International

TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla. – The second game of the Milligan University men's basketball season occurred on Saturday against Webber International University in a neutral-site tilt at Florida College. Finding a groove offensively, the Buffs were able to earn their second win in two games at the Florida College Classic, taking a 75-62 triumph over the Warriors.

An efficient offensive first half, in which Milligan shot 16-of-34 (47.1%) from the field, helped them race out to a nine-point advantage at the intermission. On the other end of the floor, the Buffs stifled Webber all half, allowing just a 9-of-29 (31.0%) shooting percentage to take a 34-25 lead into the break.

Milligan was able to get out to a 20-10 lead with 11:06 remaining in the first half. The advantage would remain with the Buffs for the rest of the half, fluctuating between 5-10 points throughout the last 11 minutes.

A second half shooting performance of 15-of-31 (48.4%) from the field led to 41 second-half points, the Buffaloes' top output in a half so far. Webber had several opportunities to get back in front in the half, but then the Buffs would shut down those openings with scoring runs, eventually notching a 75-62 win.

After the Warriors began the second half on a hot streak offensively, cutting the MU lead down to 40-39 at the 12:41 mark. Then, over the next 3:52 the Buffaloes supplied a 13-2 run to jump back out to a double-digit lead. Milligan would hold a comfortable advantage for the rest of the period, with their smallest lead being seven points, en route to a 75-62 finish.

It was a bounce-back game on offense for the Buffaloes, who shot 31-of-65 (47.7%) from the field in the victory. Elijah Bredwood, in 14 bench minutes, scored 15 points on an uber-efficient 5-of-6 shooting. McCaskill Rivers tied for the team lead with 15 points on a 6-of-14 night from the field. Finn McClure's 6-of-10 showing with 12 points, and Luke Lentz's 11 points on a 4-of-7 day, helped lead the Buffs to the win.

Handle Tamba reeled in 13 boards, while five of them came on the offensive glass. McClure and Lincoln Thomae tied for second-most rebounds on the squad with six. Sam Gold (5), Rivers (4), Jayme Peay (4), Bredwood (3), Griffin Andricks (3) and Lentz (1) also supplied boards.

On the day, the Buffaloes blocked two shots and had three steals. Tamba and Peay combined for the two rejections, while Tamba also had two steals and Thomae had the other.

A successful first two games of the season have Milligan (2-0) looking ahead to next weekend, when they travel to Huntington, Ind. for the Ness Bros. Hall of Fame Classic on Nov. 1-2. Their first bout of the classic will be against Cleary University (Mich.) at 8 p.m. on Nov. 1.