JACKSON -- In a shootout between two high-scoring offenses, Tony James' 3-pointer with 16.8 seconds left in overtime broke open a tie game and allowed the visiting DePauw Tigers to run its season-long winning streak to eight games in an 85-83 victory.
Steve Lemasters' offensive rebound and layup with 3 seconds left sent the game into overtime for DePauw after Millsaps went in front by two with 1:01 to play.
James' 3-pointer marked the 12th of the game for the Tigers, who finished 12-of-26 (46.2 percent), while junior \#Blake Martinez\# and Millsaps made 11-of-20 (55 percent) from downtown on the night.
Millsaps (5-12, 2-6 SCAC) darted out to a double digit lead, 21-11, in the game's opening 7 minutes after knocking down eight of its first nine shots. Minutes later, the Majors extended their lead to a game-high 13 with 8:03 left in the first half. DePauw (13-4, 6-1 SCAC) then closed the frame on a 16-4 run to take a 1-point lead, 39-38, at the break behind eight of Lemasters' 17 first half points.
The first half was a shooting showcase, with Millsaps hitting a season-high 66.7 percent and DePauw connecting on 60 percent. Both teams also had five 3-pointers apiece.
The Majors scored the opening basket of the second half off a Martinez jumper to go back in front 40-39 and held onto a small lead down until the 10-minute mark when DePauw regained the lead at 56-55 off a Mike Moore 3-pointer.
The Tigers continued to lead the ensuing 8 minutes, and by as many as seven with 5:03 to play, before a 12-3 spurt for Millsaps gave them a 72-70 lead with 1:01 to play. Two missed 3-pointers by James and Moore denied DePauw a chance to win the game but Lemasters' offensive rebound and put back with 3 seconds left tied the game at 72-72 and sent the game into overtime.
In the extra period, a combined 10-for-10 free throws provided the first 10 points before James' layup in the paint tied the game at 78-78 -- one of four ties in the period. The Majors took a 2-point lead behind a \#Chris Ingle\# layup with 1:34 left before two free throws from Moore tied the game again at 80-80.
James' only 3-pointer of the game came at the opportune time for DePauw with 16.8 seconds left, hitting the go-ahead basket and allowing the Tigers to hold on for the win. \#Chad Songy\#'s 3-pointer at the buzzer was good as the final score read 85-83 in favor of DePauw.
The loss for Millsaps was its third in league play by two points, as they dropped to 0-6 in games decided by five points or less. DePauw, on the other hand, won its eighth-straight game.
Martinez led all scorers with a career-high 29 points on 10-of-13 shooting (5-of-7 3s) for Millsaps, followed by a season-high 19 points from \#Chris Sanders\#, 13 from Songy and 11 from Ingle. Moore, the All-American, led DePauw with 28 points, followed by 21 from Lemasters and 14 from Tom Callen.
Millsaps will host Centre (13-3, 6-1 SCAC) on Sunday at Noon before playing its next four games on the road.
