JACKSON – In one of the most anticipated meetings between two undefeated teams in the early going of the conference slate, Millsaps put together a 13-2 run with eight minutes left in regulation to erase a 1-point deficit and top the visitors from Trinity University 73-67.
The win for Millsaps snapped a five-game losing streak to the Tigers and gave the home team its first seven-game winning streak since the 2000-01 SCAC Championship season.
The Majors weathered 58 percent shooting from the Tigers in the first half and led by two, 36-34, at the break off a late 3-pointer by senior Lorenzo Bailey before the buzzer sounded. Millsaps improved to 8-0 when leading at halftime.
As a team, Millsaps had a solid night from the floor, shooting 43.3 percent against the nation's top-ranked field goal percentage defense (34.1) and scoring 73 points on the Tigers' 10th-ranked scoring defense (56.7 ppg).
Despite being outrebounded by an overwhelming gap, 47-23, for the second-straight game, Millsaps capitalized off 18 Trinity turnovers and turned them into 21 points on the other end. The Majors' 14 steals was the second highest total of the year (Huntingdon, 17).
In a game that produced 16 lead changes and 10 ties, it was Millsaps who gained the final lead at the 7:11 mark in the second half off a jumper by junior Chad Songy. Trinity had its largest lead of the game at the 4:49 mark in the first, 13-7, before the Majors surged to a 13-2 run capped by a 3-ball from junior Chris Sanders.
Millsaps (10-1, 3-0 SCAC) benefited from three scorers in double figures, led by senior forward Edrick Montgomery who finished with 16 points and a season-high four blocks, senior Rodney Rogan who had 15 points and Sanders who finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Bailey added a career-high seven assists.
Rogan looked well on his way to his fourth-straight 20-point game for the Majors before he was upended at the 17:45 mark in the second half and forced to sit the remainder of the game. In an attempt to retrieve an alley-oop from his teammate, Rogan was unintentionally undercut by center Mike Gilb of Trinity who was the first to check on the injured Rogan.
Trinity (10-2, 3-1 SCAC) dropped its first game in league play to slip to second place in the division after a game-high 20 points from Patrick Robinson and a double-double from Luke Caldarera who finished with 10 points and 12 boards.
Millsaps will open a three-game road swing on Friday, Jan. 11, traveling to SCAC foe Colorado College. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. CST. The Majors will then play at Austin College on Sunday before a Monday non-conference affair with the University of Dallas.
**2007-08 Media Guides went on sale tonight and will be available at home games for \$3**
