MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (January 2, 2006) --- Milligan junior Zach Dezarn (Franklin, Ohio) scored 23 of his game high 33 points in the second half as the Buffs defeated Berea (Ky.) College 89-79 in non-conference action Monday evening at the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse. The win avenges an earlier match up when Berea defeated the Buffaloes 76-68 on November 5, 2005, in Berea, Ky.

With the win, the Buffs improve to 7-6 overall while Berea now stands at 4-9 in the 2005-2006 season.

Milligan and Berea battled back and forth in the first half and with just under ten minutes left in the half, the Buffs took a 26-24 lead behind a basket from Tino Washington (Lexington, Ky.)

Berea regained the lead, 30-28, with less than seven minutes left in the opening half with a three point basket from Jordan Samuels. On Milligan’s next trip down the floor, junior Tony Brogan (Tazewell, Tenn.)  nailed a three pointer to put Milligan in front 31-30. 

The Buffs extended the lead out to nine points with two free throws from Adam Hughes (Bluff City, Tenn.) to take a 43-34 lead to halftime.

Milligan started the second half with an 11-4 run over the first three minutes powered by six Zach Dezarn points during the stretch. Milligan would open up an 18 point lead, 66-48 with a basket from Hughes with nine minutes left in the game.

The Mountaineers of Berea battled back and trimmed the deficit down to nine, 70-61, with a Chris McIntyre three point basket with six minutes remaining in the contest.

The lead built by Milligan would grow to as many as 14 points down the stretch as the Buffaloes held on for the victory, in Milligan head coach Tony Wallingford’s last game before taking a medical leave. Milligan will be led by assistant coaches Donald Ensor and Richard Thomas during Wallingford’s medical leave.

Milligan was led by Dezarn and his 33 points as he was 13-of-20 from the field with six rebounds. Junior forward Adrian Harrison (Greensboro, N.C.) added 17 points while Adam Hughes and Jeff Barnes (Franklin, Tenn.) each scored 11 points.

For Berea, Chris McIntyre scored 19 points with eight rebounds while John Thomas and Donnie Hunley scored 14 and 12 points respectively off the bench.

Berea was able to win the rebounding battle 42-31 but the Buffs shot 50.8 percent (33-of-65) for the contest compared to the Mountaineers 47.5 percent (28-of-59).

The Buffs return to the court and resume the Appalachian Athletic Conference season when Milligan travels to Brevard (N.C.) College on Thursday, January 5 for a 7:30 p.m. tip off. The Tornados of Brevard currently stand at 1-6 in the AAC and 3-12 overall while the Buffs are 2-4 in the conference.