Reinhardt Answers Milligan Rallies to Earn 109-96 Road Win

WALESKA, Ga. - Reinhardt University (5-2) answered Milligan’s final push with seven straight points after its lead shrank to five, securing a 109-96 victory Saturday, Nov. 14, at Steve Lacy Fieldhouse. The Eagles improved to 2-0 in conference play. Milligan (1-6) fell to 0-1 in the conference.

Ahmari Hicks’ 3-pointer put Milligan ahead 14-6 with 15:39 remaining in the first half, but Reinhardt erased that deficit with a 10-2 response capped by Arael Jones’ tying 3-pointer. Travis Hamilton later connected from beyond the arc for a 21-18 advantage. The teams were tied again at 40 after Johntez Rasberry’s dunk with 4:11 left, and Chance Wilson put the Eagles ahead for good with a layup and one ensuing free throw for a 47-45 lead at 3:15. Jackson Sousa followed with a steal and fast-break layup. Solo Mustafa-Reid scored the half’s final basket with 23 seconds left, sending Reinhardt into halftime ahead 55-47.

Sousa’s 3-pointer extended the lead to 61-49 early in the second half, but Milligan rallied behind Zack Turner, whose steal and fast-break layup cut the margin to 67-64 with 15:10 remaining. Sousa answered with another 3-pointer. Reinhardt then used its defense to build separation: Jones’ steal led to a Rasberry dunk, and Rasberry’s steal and assist set up a Hamilton layup. Mustafa-Reid finished a 9-0 run with a dunk for a 79-66 lead at 11:11. Milligan responded again, pulling within 81-77 on Hicks’ transition 3-pointer at 9:07 before Rasberry answered from long range.

Te’Jon McDaniel-McCormick brought Milligan within 92-87 on a layup with 3:59 left. Hamilton scored consecutive baskets, and Jones converted a fast-break layup off Rasberry’s steal and assist as the Eagles launched their decisive seven-point run. Jones’ 3-pointer made it 104-89 with 1:05 remaining. Hamilton made both free-throw attempts with 25 seconds left for a 108-92 advantage, Reinhardt’s largest lead. Jones made 1-of-2 free throws with 15 seconds remaining, and William Robinson scored the game’s final basket with six seconds left.

Hamilton led Reinhardt with 22 points, including 17 in the second half, eight assists and three steals while shooting 8-of-11. Sousa scored 18 points and made 4-of-5 attempts from 3-point range. Rasberry and Jones added 16 points apiece, with Rasberry shooting 5-of-6 and Jones contributing six assists. Wilson finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. Daniel Deng Mabior and Mustafa-Reid supplied eight points each.

Reinhardt shot 69.5% from the field on 41-of-59 shooting and made 8-of-11 from beyond the arc. The Eagles held advantages of 51-23 in bench scoring, 52-36 in paint points and 25-20 in rebounds. They also converted 15 Milligan turnovers into 28 points while allowing 16 points off their own 12 turnovers. McDaniel-McCormick paced Milligan with 22 points, six rebounds and five assists. Robinson added 17 points, Hicks scored 16 and Jake Benham had 13. Milligan shot 54.5% from the field and made 27-of-28 free throws.