Buffs denied by Tusculum

from staff reports

   GREENEVILLE -- Tusculum College used a 25-3 run to open the game en route to a 61-44 victory over Milligan College Thursday night in men's basketball action at Alpine Arena.
   The Pioneers (3-4) end a four-game losing streak, while extending their win streak against the Buffaloes (4-5) to four straight.
   During the TC run, the Pioneers shot a sizzling 77 percent from the floor, while Milligan went 1-12 from the field and committed six turnovers in the first 10 minutes of the game. The Pioneers led at the half 40-23 and shot 61 percent in the first period.
   In the second half, TC maintained their lead which was never cut below 15 points for the remainder of the evening.
   Tusculum was led by Pat Compton who scored 12 points and pulled down six rebounds, while Jason Williams added 10 points in the win as TC improved to 3-1 at home. Alberto Rockafort dished a game-high five assists and seven rebounds.
   The Buffaloes were led by A.J. Hamler, who scored a game-best 14 points and posted three steals in the loss. Craig Emmert came off the bench and shot 4-for-6 from the floor for 11 points, while James Howard accounted for six rebounds.
   The Pioneers will look to end a 14-game road losing streak Saturday night as they travel to Due West, S.C. to face Erksine College for a 7:30 p.m. contest. Milligan returns home to host Bryan College Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
   Women
   Tusculum 59
   Milligan 48
   GREENEVILLE -- A week after dropping a game to Milligan, the Lady Pioneers came back strong.
   The Pioneers dropped the initial encounter on Nov. 29 at Milligan, losing 61-53.
   Junior Whitley Campbell broke out of a scoring slump with a double-double tallying a game-tying-high 15 points with 11 rebounds. Junior Candice Combs tied her school record of blocks in a game for the third time in four games with five shot deflections.
   Tusculum controlled most of the first half, but never led by more than six points. The Pioneers scored the last four points of the opening frame to take a 28-24 lead into the halftime break. Campbell led all scorers with 11 points.
   A foul shot by Milligan's Nicky Jessen at the 8:27 mark of the second half pulled the Lady Buffs within five points at 42-37. TC went on a 12-2 run over the next 4:56 to push the lead to 54-39, their largest lead of the night. Senior Kristen New highlighted the run with seven of her 15 points.
   Jessen led all Milligan scorers with 11 points and tied the MC high with five rebounds. Jessen scored 21 points against the Pioneers in the first matchup. Sophomore Miranda Greene had nine points.
   Tusculum pulled themselves up to the .500 mark with a 4-4 record. Milligan falls to 2-7.
   TC will take a week off before hosting North Greenville on Nov. 13 in a rematch of a game from Wednesday. Milligan plays Bryan College at home on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.