MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Jan. 6, 2018) â€" Aaron Levarity led the Milligan College men's basketball team with his 10th double-double of the season with 20 points and 16 rebounds but it proved not enough on Saturday evening in an Appalachian Athletic Conference showdown against No. 17 Montreat College. The Buffs (5-10 overall, 4-5 AAC) dropped a heartbreaker to the Cavs (14-1 overall, 7-1 AAC) with a made 3-pointer by Montreat's Austin Butler to secure the AAC victory over the Buffs, 80-77.

MONTREAT'S EARLY LEAD

It was a toe-to-toe race throughout the first 10 minutes of play in the first half until the Cavs got out front after a couple of Butler 3-pointers with eight minutes left. Montreat led by as much as 13 points in those remaining eight minutes as Milligan struggled to make their free throws and 3-pointers. The Buffs trailed by 12 at the half, 45-33.

THE COMEBACK

Nonetheless, Milligan decided not to settle and overall outscored the Cavs 44-35 in the second half. The first 10 minutes of the second half the Buffs trailed by as much 12 points and as little as three points until sophomore Bo Pless drained a 3-pointer to tie it up with 60 apiece at the 9:33 mark. Fellow sophomore Mike Featherston put the Buffs out front with a bucket in the paint one minute later.

Both teams traded back and forth the lead with neither one leading by more than three points. The game was tied at 63 apiece, 64 apiece, and then 77 apiece with just 33 seconds remaining after a basket in the paint by junior Will Buckner. With just 7 seconds left on the clock, Butler drained his sixth 3-pointer of the game deep in the corner.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Five Buffaloes made it into the double-digit scoring column. Following Levarity was Daxton Bostian, David Casaday and Bucker with 13 each. Featherston also followed Levarity tying his career high with nine rebounds. Bostian led with five assists while Casaday was credited four.

Butler led the Cavs with 28 points and nine rebounds. Jeron Hemphill had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Terrell Sheffey led with five assists and two steals.

UP NEXT

Milligan is back on the road for a week to face AAC foes Truett-McConnell and St. Andrews University. The Buffs face the Bears on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 7:30 p.m. and face the Knights on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 2 p.m. The Buffs return to Steve Lacy Fieldhouse Tuesday, Jan. 16, for another AAC matchup against Bluefield College at 7:30 p.m.