MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Nov. 13, 2018) â€" Will Buckner supplied 12 of his game-high 16 points in the first half, and the Milligan College men's basketball team used a strong defensive effort in the second half to cruise to their fifth straight win with a 75-53 victory over Appalachian Athletic Conference member St. Andrews Tuesday night inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.
 
With the win, the Buffaloes improved their record to 5-1 (2-0 AAC), while the Knights dropped to 1-3 (1-1 AAC).
 
BUFFS PULL AWAY WITH SECOND HALF RUN
Milligan turned up the defensive pressure in the second half after an evenly played first period that saw the Buffs leading 38-35 at the break.
 
After St. Andrews knocked down a 3-pointer in the opening minute of the second half, Milligan would hold the Knights scoreless for the next five minutes and 35 seconds as they used a 16-0 run to open up the game. Jacob Cawood kicked off the run with a made layup and Tyler Faulkenberry capped it with a make from three.
 
The Buffs held St. Andrews in single digits until the 6:27 mark of the second half and 18 overall in the period. Milligan forced 11 second half turnovers and 20 total for the game.
 
Desean Green, the nation's leader in total steals, and Tyler Nichols each recorded two of the team's nine steals. Mike Featherston registered a game-high three blocks, and Aaron Levarity and Nichols added in two.
 
In the first half, Milligan opened up an early five point lead, but St. Andrews did not allow the Buffs to pull away as they hung around for the majority of the first half to keep it close at the break.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
Levarity notched his sixth double-double of the season as he hauled in a game-high 13 rebounds to go along with 13 points. The senior forward leads the nation in offensive rebounds per game (6.0) and ranks second in total rebounds per game (15.4).
 
Green poured in 10 points while being accredited with four assists and six rebounds on the night. Nichols chipped in eight points.
 
Overall, Milligan shot 31-of-65 from the field, but continued their season struggles from the foul line (52.6 %) and 3-point line (21.4 %). The Buffs held St. Andrews well under their season average of 83.5 points per game as the Knights shot 20-of-65 for the game. Milligan's defense held the Knights to only five made baskets in the second period.
 
The Knights leading scorer Warren Vinson led St. Andrews with 13 points, four rebounds and two assists. Jamaan Bailey was the only other Knight in double figures with 11.
 
UP NEXT
The Buffs step out of conference play for an exhibition game at Elon University Thursday, Nov. 15, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. Milligan returns home to Steve Lacy Fieldhouse Saturday, Nov. 17, for a massive AAC showdown against No. 9 Union College at 4 p.m.