Buffaloes Men's Basketball Falls on the Road to Sharpshooting KCU

GRAYSON, Ky. – The Milligan University men's basketball team traveled to Kentucky to face off with the Kentucky Christian University Knights. Overall, the game was an offensive clinic, with both squads shooting better than 50% from the field. Unfortunately for the Buffs, KCU was unconscious from three-point range in the game, resulting in an eventual 92-89 loss for MU in Grayson.

The opening half consisted of a good shooting performance by the Buffs and a showing by the Knights that is unlikely to ever be seen again from any squad. Milligan connected on 19-of-36 (52.8%) from the field to score 43 first-half points. Somehow, on the hosts side, Kentucky Christian had what may have been the best three-point shooting half in history, knocking down 11-of-12 (91.7%) from beyond the arc. Additionally, they made 20-of-31 from the field, overall, to take a 51-43 lead into the intermission.

Milligan tried to work their way back in the second half, and did so effectively, shooting at 16-of-28 (57.1%) for the period. However, they could only hit a pair of long balls in the half. Kentucky Christian did not shoot quite as well in the second set of 20 minutes, but they still hit on 12-of-23 attempts, including a 3-of-4 display from range. They also hit 14 free throws to Milligan's 12. At the end of the game, Milligan would have a chance to tie the score but missed the potential tying three-point jumper. They fell 92-89 to the Knights.

The Buffaloes had five players in double-figures regarding scoring. McCaskill Rivers led the squad with 18 points on a 6-of-10 shooting night. Handje Tamba's 16 points came via an 8-of-11 performance from the field, while he had a double-double with 14 backboards. Sam Gold scored 13 on a 5-of-10 clip, while Luke Lentz added 12 on 4-of-7 shooting with three made threes. Lastly, Lincoln Thomae scored 10 on 5-of-8 from the floor.

Thomae and Tamba tied for the team lead in assists with three each. Both Gold and Elijah Bredwood had a pair of assists, as well.

Tamba's 14 rebounds were the best on the squad, with Gold adding four, Thomae providing three and Bredwood and Flynn Carlson grabbing two each.

Defensively, Milligan had six steals and four blocks in the contest. Tamba sent back three shots in the loss, with Gold providing the other block. Gold also had two steals, and the quartet of Thomae, Carlson, Jayme Peay and Grant Hensley had one, apiece.

After a tough loss against an opponent who shot the lights out, Milligan will now look ahead to THE SHOW in Kingsport at the MeadowView Marriott, where they aim to get back in the win column with a non-conference game against St. Thomas (Fla.) on Nov. 29 at 9 p.m.