CLEVELAND, Ga. (Feb. 11, 2021) – After a tied game at halftime, the Truett McConnell University men's basketball team came out on top in game two against Appalachian Athletic conference foe, Milligan University, Thursday, inside the Benjamin F. Brady Arena, with a final score of 77-67. TMU increased to a season record of 9-15, 6-12 AAC, while the Buffaloes declined to a record of 8-8, 8-7 AAC.

PLAY BY PLAY

The Bears ran away with the lead from the start with a 10-0 run that began with an EJ Smith 3-pointer and ended with a good shot in the paint from Marlon Allen (10-0). The Buffaloes fought back in small increments, able to steal the lead at the seven-minute mark (22-24), until TMU made the score even (28-28) after two good shots from the free throw line by Enocka Franky. Milligan was up by three with two minutes remaining (30-33) but the Bears retaliated when Smith drove to the basket for an and-1 (33-33).

Both teams gained momentum in the second half, continuing to make the score even on multiple occasions, but the seventh minute once again saw Milligan with the lead (49-54), forcing TMU to work from behind. The three-minute mark saw the Bears get back out front with a Brent Kelly shot in the paint (65-63), followed by another 10-point run to ultimately clinch the win with a score of 67-77.

BY THE NUMBERS

Franky led TMU with a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds, while E. Smith had 13 points and six rebounds. Allen individually had 10 points with five rebounds and four assists, followed by Kelly who had nine points, four rebounds and five assists. Senior Spencer Smith had seven points, freshman RJ Bryant had six points and senior Xavier Latore had five points with four assists.

UP NEXT

The Bears are back inside the Benjamin F. Brady Arena Saturday, Feb. 13, where they will face AAC competitor Kentucky Christian University, with a tipoff at 4:00 p.m.