MILLIGAN, Tenn. — The University of Rio Grande men’s basketball team closed out the 2006 portion of the schedule on Friday night on the road at Milligan College. Rio had a brief two-game winning streak snapped with an 86-78 loss to the Buffaloes at the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse.

Rio Grande (7-9) placed three players in double figures led by sophomore forward Brandon Ivery. Ivery has been playing very well of late and paced the Redmen with 24 points. Junior forward Curtis Clark added 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds in his second game of the season. Freshman guard Marcus Manns returned to the line-up after a one-game hiatus due to injury and tossed in 11 points.

The first half was full of action with both teams sharing the lead. There were eight ties and nine lead changes in the first 20 minutes of action. With Milligan (8-4) leading 23-20, Rio tied it on a three-pointer from sophomore guard Kory Valentine.

Milligan’s Josh Terry gave his team the lead at 41-38 with a made free throw in the waning seconds of the first half but Rio responded with a bucket from Ivery to make the score 41-40 at the half.

Milligan had a quick 10-5 burst to begin the second half and seemed to be gaining control of the game only to have Rio run off five unanswered points to bring the score back to a one-point at 51-50 with 15 minutes remaining.

Milligan gained the lead midway through the second half. With the score knotted at 55-55, Frankie Harris put the Buffaloes up for good with a basket. Milligan would get the lead as high as nine points in the second half.

Milligan was led by former Tiffin Dragon Zach Dezarn with 25 points. Harris added 14 points while Jeff Barnes and Tyler Estepp tossed in 13 and 11 points respectively. Barnes recorded a double-double as he corralled 11 rebounds as well.

Milligan shot exceptionally well from the field, connecting on 52.5 percent (32-of-61) of its attempts. Rio shot 40 percent (26-of-65) for the game. Milligan also gained the measure of Rio Grande on the boards, holding a 41-37 edge.

With the loss, Rio Grande splits the season series with Milligan, having won the season opener 72-62 at the Newt Oliver Arena, November 4.

It’s conference play the rest of the way for the Redmen beginning January 3 when the Ohio Dominican Panthers invade the Newt for a doubleheader with the women.

The women’s game will begin at 6 p.m. The men’s contest will start 20 minutes after the conclusion of the women’s game.

Rio Grande split the season series with the Panthers last year, including an exciting last second victory at the Newt.