Men's Basketball Season Ends in AAC Tournament Quarterfinals

KINGSPORT, Tenn.- The season for the men's basketball came to an end in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament on Thursday. The team fell to the second seed in the tournament, the Milligan University Buffaloes, 69-60. 

The game opened with a defensive struggle, as both teams had difficulty converting early chances. Milligan struck first with free throws, but Tennessee Wesleyan responded when Armando Cuardado grabbed an offensive rebound and later converted a layup to tie the game at 2-2.

Jay Reed was active on the boards, securing multiple rebounds and forcing turnovers. Despite several missed shots from both teams, Peyton West and Amauri Young kept the Bulldogs within striking distance. A late three-pointer by Stratton Lovvorn helped Tennessee Wesleyan close the gap to 35-37 at halftime, setting up an exciting second half.

The Bulldogs came out strong after halftime, with Cuardado finishing a tough layup off a feed from Young to tie the game at 37-37. However, Milligan quickly responded with a series of baskets, stretching their lead to 46-38.

Despite the deficit, Tennessee Wesleyan continued to fight. Charles Neverdon and Lovvorn knocked down key shots to keep the game within reach. A three-pointer from Neverdon cut the Milligan lead to just six points with under three minutes remaining, but Milligan's ability to control the boards and hit free throws down the stretch sealed the game.

Cuardado led with 18 points and 10 rebounds, both career-highs

The team finishes the season with a 13-14 overall record and 11-9 in the AAC.