Photo Credit: Peter Nelson
By: Fitzroy Harris
Milligan’s men’s basketball team secured their last non-conference victory against Barber-Scotia College in a tense, physical game that literally came down to the last seconds on Wednesday at Steve Lacy Fieldhouse, 75-74.
The Buffaloes got to a quick 6-2 lead in the first few minutes. Barber-Scotia responded by stealing crucial points, taking a 13-11 lead with 13 minutes remaining in the first half.
Senior Marshall Hardy placed Milligan back into a short-lived lead as both teams swapped the lead for the rest of the half. Junior Tyler DeVault shot Milligan to a 28-25 lead with about five minutes remaining. Barber-Scotia closed the gap and the first period ended with a Milligan lead of 36-35.
Sophomore Kyle Grisby secured nine points and Devault seven in the first period.
Milligan opened the second period taking the lead 41-38 four minutes in with shots from freshman Mickey Woods and junior Torian Sitton, but Barber-Scotia soon equalized.
A competitive second period saw the teams trading the lead several times until Barber-Scotia pulled to a 58-54 lead with 10 minutes remaining. The Buffaloes fought back to narrow the gap to 73-69 with just over a minute of play.
With 38 seconds left and the score 74-73, Devault shot the last two decisive free-throws that resulted in Milligan’s narrow victory.
Grisby was top scorer closing the game with 18 points, followed by Devault, 16, Woods, 15, Sitton, 11 and Hardy, 7.
“It was a good game,” said head coach Bill Robinson, “a means of sharpening up for upcoming conference matches.”
“We played well as a team to the end and found a way to win,” said Devault.
Milligan returns to conference action on Saturday at 3 p.m. when the Buffaloes face Point University at East Point, Ga.
The Buffaloes will return to Steve Lacy Fieldhouse at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28 when they face Montreat College.
Preceding the men’s game, the women’s basketball team secured an 87-66 win over AAC member Columbia College.
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