CLEVELAND, Ga. (Jan. 25, 2020) – After gaining a lead as big as 13 points, the Truett McConnell University men's basketball found themselves in their third overtime game of the season against Milligan College on Saturday afternoon. Despite the 13-point cushion, the Bears were unable to come out on top against the Buffs in overtime (88-85) to fall to 6-16, 2-15 AAC on the season. Milligan, who ranks third in the Appalachian Athletic Conference standings, won their third straight game to improve to 13-7, 11-5 AAC on the year.
PLAY-BY-PLAY
The first 20 minutes of regulation saw a tied score eight times with TMU leading by as much as eight and the Buffs leading by as much as three. The first nine minutes of the second half was much like the first half until Antonio Bonilla's 3-pointer put the Bears ahead by one (51-50), and it was only up from there. An 8-0 scoring run by TMU put them up by 10 (62-52) but it was Cristian Colon's 3-pointer that gave TMU their largest lead (66-53) with 7:08 to go. In fact, two Bonilla free throws also allowed the Bears to lead by 13 (68-55) with 6:03 on the scoreboard.
Nonetheless, the Buffs rallied to tie it back up at 72-72 on a 3-pointer with 1:40 to go in regulation. Although Enocka Franky's two free throws put TMU ahead by two with 1:22 to go (74-72), Milligan managed to score in the paint with two seconds remaining to force the game into overtime (74-74).
TMU led by two points two minutes into overtime on Marlon Allen's bucket in the paint (78-76), but the Buffs matched it with a bucket (78-78) and 3-pointer of their own (78-81) to steal the lead for good. The Bears got within one (80-81) but Milligan pulled out front by as much as seven to ultimately put the game out of reach.
LEADERS
Franky led in scoring with 23 points, while Allen recorded a career high double-double of 17 points and 18 rebounds. Franky also had three blocks and eight rebounds. Bonilla scored 16 and Xavier Latore scored 12. Latore led with four steals, Brent Kelly was credited five assists and Allen was credited four. Colon tallied three assists.
UP NEXT
The Bears are back on the road Thursday, Jan. 30, to face Tennessee Wesleyan University at 7:00 p.m., before returning home on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 4:00 p.m., to host Montreat College.
