KINGSPORT, Tenn. (Nov. 25, 2017) â€" Daxton Bostian led the way with 18 points while Aaron Levarity recorded his fifth straight double-double and the Milligan College men's basketball team defeated Washington Adventist University 73-67 Saturday night on the second day of the third annual NAIA DII Showcase, held at MeadowView Marriott.
 
Bostian was 5-of-8 from 3-point territory and Levarity had 17 points and 15 rebounds along with four blocks as Milligan defeated a Washington Adventist program which won last year's Association of Independent Institutions Championship on the way to a trip to the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship. Washington Adventist was receiving votes in the latest NAIA coaches top 25 poll.
 
DOWN THE STRETCH
One of Levarity's biggest baskets came in the final two minutes near the end of the shot clock after a feed from Bo Pless from the corner. It made it 69-62 and put an end to a dangerous 9-2 run Washington Adventist had been on to claw back into the game. It also marked the final made basket by Milligan in the contest as the Buffs closed the game with enough made free throws to ice the game.
 
Senior Will Robinson was 2-for-2 from the free throw line, his free throws coming with 22 seconds left to make it 73-64.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
In addition to Bostian and Levarity, senior David Casaday (11 points) and junior Will Buckner (10 points) reached double figures. Desean Green had four assists and Pless had three assists.
 
Milligan had an even rebounding margin with WAU at 38-38, although Washington Adventist hauled in 15 rebounds on the offensive end, compared to nine by Milligan. As a team, Milligan shot 46.2 percent (24-52) from the field and 50 percent from 3-point (9-18).
 
FOR WASHINGTON ADVENTIST
Charles Vines was 7-for-11 behind the arc to finish with a game high 21 points. Elijah Kess was next with 10 points. WAU shot 38.0 percent (27-71) from the field but had a marked improvement behind the 3-point line, shooting 45.8 percent (11-24).  
 
UP NEXT
Milligan will turn around quickly for another matchup at the DII Showcase when the Buffs face University of Northwestern Ohio Sunday at 5 p.m. to conclude the three-day tournament. The next home game for Milligan will be in 2018.