The Milligan University men's basketball team went back and forth with Bluefield all night, but the Rams knocked down four free throws in the final minute of play to take a 78-75 victory on Tuesday evening.
The contest included 11 ties and 21 lead changes over the course of the evening as neither team led by more than five points at any time during the game. The Buffs fall to 1-3 on the year and 1-2 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play. Bluefield rises to 2-2, 1-2 AAC.
After a pair of free throws by Sam Gold with 6:32 to play in regulation tied the game at 66, Milligan opened up its largest lead of the evening after a three by Dylan Bartley and a layup by Levontae Knox gave the Buffs a 71-66 edge.
After a three gave Bluefield a 72-71 edge with three minutes left, Bartley converted a pair of free throws to retake the lead. The Rams responded with a good layup but a goaltending whistle on a Knox layup attempt handed the lead back to Milligan, 75-74, with 1:08 left to play.
Bluefield sank two free throws with 29 seconds left to lead 76-75 and the Buffs turned the ball over the ensuing possession. After two more made foul shots by Bluefield in the final 10 seconds, Milligan raced down the floor but Dylan Bartley's game-tying three did not fall and the Rams escaped with their first conference victory.
The first half saw neither team lead by more than two scores as the largest edge enjoyed by either team was five points when Bluefield led 21-16 and 23-18 but in both instances, Milligan immediately scored to make it a one-possession game. The score was tied at 29, 31 and 33 in the final three minutes of the first half before a Flynn Carlson layup in the final minute gave the Buffs a 35-33 halftime edge.
Bartley converted four threes and eight free throws on his way to a game high 24 points. Gold had 15 points and six rebounds. Knox finished with 12 points and six rebounds.
The Buffs won the rebounding battled 34-29 and outscored Bluefield in the paint 40-20.
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