Reinhardt Falls to Milligan After Slow Start

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

WALESKA, Ga. – The Buffaloes of Milligan (Tenn.) came into the Brown Athletic Center on Saturday evening and walked out victorious after upsetting the hometown Eagles on their home floor, 80-73, to hand Reinhardt back-to-back defeats in the process.

Kristian Collins led the offensive attack with 18 points (4-of-8 from deep) for the Eagles (13-7, 8-6 Appalachian Athletic Conference) as they dropped just their second contest in Waleska this season.

Two other starters – Josh Press (15; 4-for-7 from beyond the arc) and Jalin Wimberly (10) – hit double figures on the night after the hometown squad was playing catch-up basketball seemingly from the very beginning of the game.

The Buffaloes used big-time shots from 3-point land and aided from poor shooting from their hosts to pull out to a 26-9 advantage with 9:13 left before halftime. From there, Reinhardt was able to get back within seven at 30-23 after a 14-4 run in four minutes.

Milligan immediately got the lead back to 10 following another shot from deep, but couldn't prevent the Eagles from closing the gap – and even tying the score at 40-40 in the final seconds – before the Buffaloes made a basket right before the halftime buzzer to regain the score at 42-40 heading into the locker room.

Reinhardt seemed to have found its rhythm coming out of the break and stormed ahead by five points (49-44) in the opening minutes, but the visitors were able to find a way back to the lead in four minutes and pushed the advantage to a half-dozen – and even as high as 10 tallies with less than three minutes remaining.

The Eagles were able to get back within four points on numerous occasions, but couldn't get close enough in the end to truly threaten Milligan.

Press and Wimberly each had six rebounds and helped the team force the Buffaloes into 17 miscues.

Greg Hobbs also added 10 points and four rebounds.

Reinhardt shot 41 percent and hit five 3-pointers, but connected on just 13-of-25 from the free throw line.

The club is back home on Tuesday evening against Montreat (N.C.) in a 5 p.m. clash on the hardwood. 

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