CLEVELAND, Ga. (Jan. 10, 2018) â€" After a thrilling overtime win after a winning shot with under three seconds remaining earlier in the season, the Milligan College men's basketball team proved their grit once again in an Appalachian Athletic Conference faceoff defeating Truett-McConnell University on the road Wednesday night. The Buffs (6-10, 5-5 AAC) beat the Bears (12-7, 5-5 AAC) 90-83.

Senior David Casaday led the Buffs with a career high 34 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including a 9-for-15 effort from the perimeter. His nine made 3-pointers were one shy of the Milligan single game record.

THE BEARS STRONG FIRST HALF
Truett immediately took off leading by 20 points while keeping the Buffs at just two points (22-2) with 10 minutes left to play in the first half. Nonetheless, the Buffs pushed to minimize the deficit scoring 28 points in the remaining 10 minutes putting the Bears at a 15-point lead at the half (45-30). The Bears led by at most 22 points with six minutes remaining.

THE TREMENDOUS COMEBACK
With no panic or quit visible, the Buffs came back out in the second half ready to rally. With eight 3-pointers, a handful of other baskets and free throws, Milligan came within one single point of the Bears with 8:30 remaining (65-64). Four of the made 3-pointers were by Casaday as he came one short of tying the record of 10 set by Eric Richardson in 1995.

The Buffs tied the game for the first time at the 6:09 mark and then went on to take the lead for good after a Daxton Bostian 3-pointer and it was only up from there. With four minutes left to go in the game, the Bears did not come any closer than four points of Milligan while the Buffs led by as much as eight points. Milligan outscored Truett 60-38 in the second half securing their AAC victory over the Bears for the second time this season (90-83).

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Casaday led all scorers with 34 points while Bostian was next with 22 points, 19 of which were in the second half. Aaron Levarity led with nine rebounds with Mike Featherston earning eight rebounds. Desean Green was credited five assists and earned four steals.

Truett-McConnell had five players enter into the double-digit scoring column. Christian Davis led with 16 points and Jacob Brooke followed with 13 points and led with nine rebounds. Myles Monroe was credited four assists.

UP NEXT
The Buffs are on the road again to St. Andrews University for another AAC showdown at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13, and return home to face another AAC foe on Thursday, Jan. 18. The game time is set at 7:30 p.m. inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.