Skyhawks early lead, not enough to contain Buffs on the road
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (Jan. 19, 2023) – The Point University men's basketball team returned to action Thursday evening for their away AAC matchup against Milligan and fell 69-59.
The Skyhawks got their scoring started when RJ Selman made a layup to tie the game up at 2-2 to begin the contest. After Theron Montgomery would get an offensive rebound and the tip in, Point would take a 30 second timeout with 12:39 on the clock. RJ Selman would get his layup to go and also get fouled on the play. Selman would complete the old fashion three-point play and bring the Skyhawks back within five-points at 18-13. Jake Smith would find a wide open RJ Selman at the 7:31 mark for a three-pointer to stay within six-points at 22-16. Theron Montgomery would add a three-ball and RJ Selman's made jump shot, would make it 22-21, advantage Buffaloes at 5:56 remaining in the first half. The Buffalos would make two free throws, but on the next possession Jake Smith would nail a three-pointer to tie the contest up at 24-24. Benjamin Ross' three-pointer would give the Skyhawks their first lead of the game at 27-24. After a Buffaloes 4-0 run to end the first half, would send both teams to the locker room with the Skyhawks leading 34-32.
The second half would start off hot for the Skyhawks with Jack Gray and Jake Smith both making shots to extend the lead to 38-32. The Buffaloes would go back and forth with the Skyhawks on a one possession game for over five minutes until Jack Gray makes a three-pointer at the 12:12 mark to make it 46-43 in favor of the Skyhawks. The Buffaloes would regain the lead on a three-pointer, but would see themselves lose the lead to the Skyhawks on Jake Smith and Theaplais Williams' made free throws to tie the game at 49-49. The Buffaloes would go on a 5-0 run and would see that run stop with a made jump shot by Jack Gray to make it 54-51, in favor of the Buffaloes. After a made layup from the Buffaloes to give them a eight-point lead and conclude another 5-0 run to give them a 61-53 lead with 2:22 left in the contest. RJ Selman's made free throw would see the Skyhawks cut the Buffaloes lead to 61-55 with 1:50 left in the game. The Buffaloes would have the hot hand from the charity stripe coming down the stretch of the game. The four made free throws in a row on back-to-back possessions would give the Buffaloes a ten-point lead at 67-57. After two made free throws by RJ Selman to make it 67-59, the Buffaloes would two made free throws and come out with a ten-point victory with a score of 69-59.
In the box
RJ Selman led all Skyhawks in scoring with 18 points, while adding four rebounds, one assist and two steals. Two other Skyhawks were in double digits tonight, with Benjamin Ross with 13 points and Jack Gray adding 10 points.
Ross also had a double-double tonight in the stat book, adding eleven rebounds to his 13 points.
The Skyhawks shot 36.1% (22 of 61) from the floor, 23.8% (5 of 21) from three-point land and 50% (10 of 20) at the charity stripe.
Up next
The Skyhawks will return to action on Saturday, January 21, for a home AAC matchup against Union College starting at 6:30 P.M.