Milligan College’s Aaron Levarity has been named the Appalachian Athletic Conference men’s basketball player of the week for the week ending Jan. 20, announced the league office Monday afternoon.

This marked Levarity’s second weekly nod of the season and fourth of his career as he helped Milligan post a 3-0 record and extend its winning streak to eight games last week.

Levarity put up big numbers on both ends of the floor in all three games of the week. He averaged 24.7 points and 15.3 rebounds, along with 2.7 assists and 1.7 blocks, per game. Levarity recorded 23 or more points and 13 or more rebounds in all three contests to bring his season total to an AAC-leading 14 double-doubles. Saturday’s win at St. Andrews saw the senior from Freeport, Bahamas, score his 1,000th career point.

Levarity ranks in the top 20 in NAIA Division II in seven statistical categories, including No. 3 in rebounds per game (12.5) and No. 5 in field goal percentage (.611). He is the AAC’s leading scorer with 19.1 points per game, top rebounder with 12.5 rebounds per game, and top shot blocker with 1.47 blocks per game.

Levarity and the Buffs are back in action twice on the road this week before returning home Saturday for an AAC tilt against Reinhardt University. Opening tip is scheduled for 4 p.m. following the women’s game.

Women’s basketball edged at Tennessee Wesleyan

Sarah Robinson posted her fifth double-double of the season and had a chance to tie the game as time expired, but the Milligan College women’s basketball team fell in a close road game, 73-71, to Appalachian Athletic Conference foe Tennessee Wesleyan University Monday afternoon.

The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Buffs, who fell to 16-4 (14-2 AAC) despite beating the Bulldogs 79-61 at Steve Lacy Fieldhouse less than two weeks ago. Tennessee Wesleyan improved to 11-7 (9-7 AAC).

The game went back and forth most of the way through. Tennessee Wesleyan opened up a nine-point advantage in the first quarter only to see Milligan battle back to draw the game even, 32-32, at the halftime break. Similarly in the second half, the Bulldogs built a seven-point lead in the third quarter but the Buffs drew back even, and had the lead, in the fourth.

Emily Kiser made a pair of free throws to give Milligan its first lead since late in the first half, 62-61, midway through the final quarter. Roughly five minutes later, Kiser followed with three big made free throws to trim a five-point TWU lead to two, 71-69, with 34 seconds left, setting up an exciting finish.

In the final 15 seconds, Wesleyan made a basket to go up 73-69, but Milligan answered with a basket by Kaely Gose underneath, followed by a forced turnover to earn the final shot, which was missed as time expired.

Robinson’s fifth double-double of the season also was her second against Tennessee Wesleyan. She posted team highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Emma Kate Brown scored 11, including hitting a big three to give Milligan its first lead late in the first half. Mackenzie Raizor scored 10 points and added four rebounds.

Hunter Simpson led all scorers with 22 points while Jacobi Lynn scored 20 and Hannah Cherry scored 18. Only four other Bulldogs scored points, and none scored more than six.

Milligan heads to Barbourville, Kentucky, Wednesday for an AAC matchup against Union before returning home for Reinhardt University Saturday, Jan. 26, at 2 p.m. The Buffs are down to only four home games left on the schedule this season.

Buffs pick up ninth straight win

Tyler Nichols and Jacob Cawood knocked in a pair of clutch free throws and the Milligan College men’s basketball team picked up their ninth straight win with a 76-72 victory over Appalachian Athletic Conference foe Tennessee Wesleyan Monday afternoon on the road.

Milligan improved to 15-5 on the year and 9-4 in AAC play as they swept the season series against the Bulldogs after defeating Tennessee Wesleyan 88-85 in overtime Saturday, Jan. 12, inside Steve Lacy Fieldhouse. The Bulldogs dropped their eighth consecutive contest and fell to 8-11 and 4-10 in conference play.

After heading into the halftime break with a 35-30 lead, Milligan struggled early in the second half and allowed a 10-0 run from the Bulldogs that saw the Buffs go from leading 39-32 to trailing 42-39 at the 17:24 mark.

With the Bulldogs up four and looking to stretch out the lead, Tyler Faulkenberry drained a big 3-pointer to trim the lead to one and sparked a 10-3 run that put Milligan back on top for good.

The Buffs built the lead up to as much as 11 points with 7:26 remaining on a Bo Pless 3-pointer, but the Bulldogs attempted a late rally and got within three points with just over a minute remaining.

With Wesleyan looking for a big stop, Levarity missed a shot from deep in the paint, but Faulkenberry was able to snag a huge rebound and kick it out to Nichols. Nichols was fouled and netted a pair of free throws to extend Milligan’s lead to five. After a made three by the Bulldogs on their ensuing possession, Cawood knocked down two more free throws to make the final score 76-72.

Levarity poured in 13 of his 15 points in the second half and hauled in 15 rebounds for his 15th double-double of the season. The senior also added three assists, two blocks and a steal. Entering today’s contest, Levarity led the AAC in eight different categories including points per game and rebounds per game.

Four other Buffs joined Levarity in double figures led by Cawood, who compiled 15 points. Faulkenberry chipped in 12 off the bench, and Nichols and Mike Featherston added 11 and 10 respectively. Pless also contributed with seven points off the bench.

Overall, Milligan shot 48.3 percent from the field while holding the Bulldogs to under 40 percent. The Buffs continue to play stingy 3-point defense as they held Wesleyan to 6-of-25 from deep.

The Bulldogs were led by Ty Patterson with 26 points and nine rebounds. QD Cox joined Patterson as the only other Bulldog in double figures with 16 points.

Milligan wraps up their three-game road trip with an AAC showdown against No. 9 Union Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m. The Buffs return home to Steve Lacy Fieldhouse Saturday, Jan. 26, for an AAC tilt against Reinhardt University. Tip-off is set for approximately 4 p.m. after the women’s game.