MILLIGAN, Tenn. – The Milligan University men's basketball program is coming off a historic, record-breaking 2024-25 campaign, notching their first ever Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament title since the Buffaloes became a member before the 2000-01 campaign. Now, it is time for the 2025-26 squad to make their mark.

The Buffaloes start their season on the road at Life University (Ga.) in Marietta, Ga. on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.

2024-25 Season Review: Milligan's 2024-25 season got off to a slow start in AAC play, as they dropped three of their first five contests in the conference, but from that point forward, the Buffaloes dropped only three additional conference contests for the rest of the season.

In the AAC Tournament, the Buffaloes cruised rather simply through their first two contests in 69-60 (Tennessee Wesleyan, Quarterfinal) and 80-60 (Montreat, Semifinal) triumphs. They then faced a Johnson University outfit in the conference championship bout after taking the win over the Royals in the regular season by two points. With the Buffs trailing by eight points with 11:13 left to go, they mounted a 19-8 run to take up the remainder of the contest, seizing the title with a 67-64 victory.

The squad was then selected as a No. 13 seed in the NAIA National Tournament – First Round in Williamsburg, Ky., where they matched up with the University of the Cumberlands on their home floor. The Buffs fell by 14 points in their first trip back to nationals since the 2017-18 season.

Milligan's defense was their calling card last season, having allowed only a 40% FG mark to their opponents, which was the best in the AAC. They also allowed the least points in the conference, on average, affording their opposition just 68.2 points per game. Rebounding was a strength, as the team averaged a 9.1 rebounds-per-game margin in their favor, nearly double any other AAC foe.

2025-26 AAC Preseason Poll: Milligan was selected to place tied for fourth in the AAC in the 2025-26 AAC Preseason Poll.

The 2025-26 AAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
Team - Total Points (1st-Place Votes)

1. Pikeville (8) - 140
2. Johnson (3) - 133
3. Columbia International - 116
T4. Milligan - 96
T4. Montreat - 96
6. Tennessee Wesleyan - 80
T7. Reinhardt - 62
T7. Columbia - 62
9. Union Commonwealth - 60
10. Truett McConnell - 57
11. Bryan - 48
12. Spartanburg Methodist - 36
13. Bluefield - 15

Key Returners: Milligan's roster underwent a large overhaul, as they return just four players from the 2024-25 roster.

Figuring to make a huge impact for the team is senior point guard, Elijah Bredwood. He averaged eight points per game off the bench last season as an immediate scoring option. His athleticism and motor will be key in the Buffs sustaining success both offensively and defensively.

"Elijah is an explosive athlete with the ability to score at the rim or behind the three-point line," said head coach Bill Robinson. "The Buffs will lean upon his scoring and ability to run the offense this season. Bredwood is electric on the court and needs to step up big for Milligan if the team is going to experience success this season."

Grant Hensley will certainly expand his role in 2025-26 after playing 20 games last year for the team. The junior guard scored 35 points last year and had nine rebounds, four steals and a block.

Bo Koebbe, a redshirt freshman, is another piece that the Buffs will be looking toward this season to step up and fill a role.

Lastly, Jazper Johnson will use his grad year to finish out his eligibility in 2025-26 after missing 2024-25 due to injury.

"Grant has played great this fall, Robinson stated. "He has gotten stronger and his shot looks great. He will also be expected to step as a leader this season. Bo and Jaz are still trying to overcome injuries. Neither has been able to practice much this fall. Hopefully they will be able to get back on the court soon."

Newcomers: The Buffs brought in a whole host of new faces, with nine fresh student-athletes added to the roster.

A trio of transfers enter the fray, with senior forward Zivko Damjanovic (Carolina University (N.C.)), junior guard Te'Jon McDaniel-McCormick (Fayetteville Tech (Ark.)) and junior guard Sergej Cvetkovic (Caldwell CC & Technical (N.C.)) coming to the Buffs.

"Big Z needs to come in and take over the starting center position this year, Robinson opined. "He is strong and has great feet around the rim. Te'Jon is a great defender and decision maker. He will play a major role for the Buffs this season at both forward positions. Serge is a great stand still shooter and will provide firepower off the bench for the Buffs."

Milligan gets much younger this season, with six new freshmen joining the roster. Five guards (Jake Benham (Concord, N.C.), Ahmari Hicks (Charlotte, N.C.), Liviu Anton (Causeni, Moldova), Stefan Janevski (Prilep, North Macedonia), and Zack Turner (Knoxville, Tenn.)) join the ranks, and one forward (Luka Horvatic (Zapresic, Croatia)) closes out the list of Buffs newcomers.

"Both Jake and Ahmari have played well so far," Robinson declared. "They are both excellent shooters and defend the ball very well. Liv is an excellent athlete and will be called upon early to help inside for the Buffs. Luka has shown the most improvement so far and will find time behind Zivko at the post position. Stef has been hurt and hasn't practiced in nearly a month, but Zack has done a great job filling in as backup point guard."

Looking at the Schedule: The early-season non-conference slate includes a home-and-home on Oct. 24 (away) and Nov. 12 (home) with the Life University Running Eagles, which is a squad that beat the Buffaloes last year and reached the NAIA's final 16 teams in Kansas City, Mo. Additionally, the Buffs will play Georgia Gwinnett College on Oct. 25 for the second game of their program's history in Lawrenceville, Ga. The squad battles Carolina (N.C.) away from home on Nov. 1 before an NCAA Division I exhibition with Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro on Nov. 5.

"The pre-season schedule is brutal!" exclaimed Robinson. "Coming off the great season last year, I was determined to play the toughest schedule we could and I have succeeded. The team may struggle early, but it will make us better later in the year," he concluded.

Milligan's AAC schedule includes 10 road contests and nine back at home. The Buffs' longest streak of road contests in a row within the conference is four games on Dec. 10 at Pikeville (Ky.), Dec. 13 at Montreat (N.C.), Jan. 7 at Union Commonwealth (Ky.) and Jan. 10 at Bryan (Tenn.). Milligan does not have more than two home contests in a row until the latter stages of the season when they have three against UPIKE on Jan. 21, Reinhardt (Ga.) on Jan. 24 and Montreat on Jan. 28 within the conference. The Buffaloes' AAC season concludes with five alternating contests, ending on the road in Columbia, S.C. against Columbia International University on Feb. 21. The conference tournament takes place on Feb. 25-28 at the MeadowView Marriott in Kingsport, Tenn.

"The AAC should be super competitive again this season," pointed out Robinson. "I expect UPike, Montreat and CIU to have great squads this year. We will be challenged with lots of tough games early, but there are no bad teams this year in the AAC. Everyone should be competitive."

The Buffaloes get the unique opportunity this season to take part in Christmas at the Wooden on the Athletes in Action campus in Xenia, Ohio. The event takes place on Dec. 16-17 and includes a matchup with Taylor (Ind.) on the 16^th and either St. Francis (Ill.) or St. Thomas (Fla.) on the 17^th.

"I have lots of friends at AIA, so this is a trip I am really looking forward to," Robinson said. "It will be great basketball, but also a great time to spend some time with Christian brothers who also use basketball as a tool to further the Kingdom of God."

A quartet of other non-conference contests are on the schedule, as the team plays University of the Cumberlands on the road in Williamsburg, Ky. on Dec. 30 after falling to them in the national tournament a year ago. They also have another NCAA DI exhibition on Dec. 22 at Miami (Ohio), which is another great opportunity to play top-notch competition. Milligan plays Carolina (Jan. 3, home) and Georgia Gwinnett (Jan. 31, home) again, as well.

Last Word: "Hopefully by Christmas we have figured out how best to use the strengths of this team," Robinson aspires. "If we can stay healthy, I believe this team has the talent to be very good."