WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. - The Milligan University men's basketball program returned to action on Tuesday afternoon in Williamsburg, Ky., where they matched up against an NAIA powerhouse in No. 3-ranked University of the Cumberlands. From the tip, the hosts showed their mettle, as the Buffaloes eventually fell by a 120-58 final tally.

In the first half, the Buffs trailed just 8-6 after 2:49 of game time had elapsed, but Cumberlands then erupted for 12 straight points over the following 2:25 to extend the MU deficit to 20-6. After battling back to make it a 10-point game at 27-17 with 10:17 remaining, Milligan allowed nine points in a row to the Patriots, resulting in a 36-17 score. From there, the Pats continued to extend that lead, ending up with a 31-point advantage at the intermission, 58-27. Milligan struggled from the floor, converting on just 12-of-32 (37.5%) from the field. Comparatively, UC scored on 21 of their 36 attempts in the period, including nine makes from distance to the Buffs' two. 

To begin the second frame, Milligan scored a layup, but then afforded the Patriots seven points in a row over the next 1:34. Cumberlands continued to pour it on with prolific scoring in the remaining minutes, extending their lead to an eventual 62 points at the horn to end up with a 120-58 win over the Buffaloes. 

It was not an efficient day for the Milligan offense, which shot only 24-of-65 (36.9%) from the field. Stefan Janevski led the Buffaloes in scoring for the first time in his short career, with 12, on a 4-of-6 shooting clip. Elijah Bredwood had 11 points on a 5-of-14 day from the floor, and Bo Koebbe also reached double figures, notching 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting.

Milligan passed out nine assists in the loss, led by Te'Jon McDaniel-McCormick with three. Janevski and Jake Benham both supplied a pair, while the other two dimes came from Grant Hensley and Zack Turner.  

Overall, a 23-rebound deficit was accrued by Milligan in the game, as UC blitzed the glass all contest long. Every player who saw the floor for the Buffs had at least one backboard, but the highest total grabbed was three by both Koebbe and Zivko Damjanovic. Bredwood and McDaniel-McCormick both hauled in a pair of boards, and all seven other participants for the Buffaloes had one.

The squad had five steals and two blocks in the tilt, with Hensley leading the charge with a pair of thefts. Koebbe added one of each, while McDaniel-McCormick and Damjanovic had a steal each and Turner blocked a shot.

Milligan's (3-11, 2-5 AAC) next matchup is another non-conference bout, this time at home, on Saturday, Jan. 3. In the battle, they will face off with the Carolina University (N.C.) Bruins, a team that the Buffs took down 77-53 on the road back on Nov. 1.