Royals Fall to Milligan in AAC Championship Heartbreaker

KINGSPORT, TN– The Royals came up just short in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship, falling 67-64 to Milligan University in a tightly contested battle on Saturday afternoon. Despite controlling the game for much of the contest, a tough final three minutes proved costly as Milligan staged a late comeback to take the title.

Head coach Logan Sharp reflected on the heartbreaking loss. "Tough one today. I thought we controlled the game for the majority of the game, but the last three minutes we just did some uncharacteristic things that hurt us. Credit to Milligan. I am very proud of our team, and we look forward to Thursday's selection show to see how that plays out. We have a lot to play for going forward."

Game Recap

The Royals came out strong, building a 40-35 halftime lead, led by Isaiah Poore's 22 points and a strong defensive effort. Johnson maintained control deep into the second half, but Milligan capitalized on key mistakes down the stretch to edge out the win.

• Isaiah Poore led all scorers with 22 points, adding four rebounds.

• Mason Lockhart contributed 15 points and six rebounds, battling inside against Milligan's size.

• Toris Woods added 15 points, providing a steady scoring presence.

• Ben Rice and Dallas Carbaugh combined for 10 points off the bench.

Despite forcing Milligan into 10 turnovers, the Royals struggled on the boards, getting outrebounded 40-31, which led to 10 second-chance points for Milligan.

Looking Ahead

While the loss is disappointing, the Royals remain optimistic as they await their postseason fate in the upcoming NAIA National Tournament selection show. Johnson's strong season and deep conference tournament run make them a prime candidate for an at-large bid.

For updates on the selection process and upcoming tournament action, visit JohnsonRoyals.com.