MILLIGAN, Tenn. (Dec. 10, 2020) – Josh Thomas scored a career high 23 points and added a career high-tying 10 rebounds, but the Milligan University men's basketball team suffered from another sluggish second half and fell to Reinhardt, 94-89, Thursday evening inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.
Thomas' double-double was his fourth of the season, all happening over Milligan's last four games.
Late in the game
Both teams made big shots on offense and came up with big stops on defense, but ultimately it was Reinhardt that made the final ones. After Trevor Hensley made a two-pointer just outside of three minutes to go to make it a one-point Milligan lead, Reinhardt answered with 3-pointers on its next two possessions to go into the lead for good. The former marked the 18th lead change of the game, with three of them coming inside the final three and a half minutes.
Milligan battled and cut the deficit to one with 1:38 left, then again to one with under 42 seconds left. Reinhardt answered on both of the ensuing possessions, although the Buffaloes earned their closest chance when Hensley stole an in-bounds pass with 17 seconds left in a three-point game. A few seconds later Hensley had a close look from three with a chance to tie but missed.
Reinhardt made both free throws at the other end to complete an 18-9 run over the last five minutes of the game.
By the numbers
Thomas was the first of four Buffs in double figures. Following were David Tripp and Hensley, who both scored 18, and Jeffrey Selden, who scored a career high 14. Tripp, who battled foul trouble, added four rebounds and four blocks. Hensley tallied a career high-tying six assists along with four rebounds and three blocks.
For Reinhardt, Jalin Wimberly led all scorers with 32 points on 10-for-19 shooting, going 3-for-7 from the perimeter. He added a team high eight rebounds.
Up next
Milligan closes the fall semester at Montreat on Saturday for a 4 p.m. game against the Cavaliers. The Buffs will then break for Christmas before returning to action in January.
