Milligan Outlasts Johnson for Men's Basketball Tournament Title

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - It was anything but easy; however, No. 2 Milligan got the job done as it outlasted fourth-seeded Johnson 67-64 to win the 2025 WinWon Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Men's Basketball Tournament on Saturday.

The tournament was played at the MeadowView Marriott Convention Center & Conference Resort in Kingsport, Tenn.

This is Milligan's first-ever men's basketball tournament title.

Play was tight throughout the entire contest, but Johnson closed out the half on a 5-0 spurt to take a 40-35 lead at the break. The Royals maintained the lead for much of the second half but could never get any real separation as their lead grew no bigger than six at any point.

Down 63-59, Luke Lentz drained a 3-pointer to pull Milligan within one with 2:24 to play. Then, a pair of Jayme Peay free throws put the Buffaloes up 64-63 with 1:53 remaining. From that point on, Milligan never trailed as it locked up the 67-64 victory and the tournament championship.

McCaskill Rivers posted 23 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists for Milligan to earn Tournament MVP honors. Joining him on the All-Tournament Team are Handje Tamba and Elijah Bredwood of Milligan, Isaiah Poore and Mason Lockhart of Johnson, Bradley Bunch of Pikeville, and Jack Keller of Montreat.

With the tournament championship win, Milligan earned an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship Tournament.

Tournament Schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 26
Game 1 - No. 9 Truett McConnell (13-14) def. No. 8 Reinhardt (12-16), 78-77 (box)
Game 2 - No. 7 Tennessee Wesleyan (13-13) def. No. 10 Union Commonwealth (12-15), 77-69 (box)

Thursday, Feb. 27
Game 3 - No. 1 Pikeville (24-5) def. No. 9 Truett McConnell (13-15), 72-58 (box)
Game 4 - No. 4 Johnson (19-9) def. No. 5 Bryan (15-11), 86-70 (box)
Game 5 - No. 2 Milligan (20-9) def. No. 7 Tennessee Wesleyan (13-14), 69-60 (box)
Game 6 - No. 6 Montreat (19-10) def. No. 3 Columbia International (19-7), 82-79 (box)

Friday, Feb. 28
Game 7 - No. 4 Johnson (20-9) def. No. 1 Pikeville (24-6), 78-73 (box)
Game 8 - No. 2 Milligan (21-9) vs. No. 6 Montreat (19-11), 80-60 (box)

Saturday, March 1
Game 9 - Championship Game - No. 2 Milligan (22-9) def. No. 4 Johnson (20-10), 67-64 (box)