• Official Stats
JACKSON -- Playing in the final home game of their careers, senior \#Chris Sanders\# netted a career-high 21 points off the bench -- 15 in the first half -- and senior \#Chad Songy\# followed with 14 points and a game-high eight assists as Millsaps stayed alive for a spot in the SCAC Tournament in two weeks with an 83-73 victory over Southwestern on Sunday afternoon.
The Majors won their third consecutive game to move to 9-15 overall and 6-8 in the league, while the Pirates fell to 14-9 and 5-8 in conference play.
In a game that had huge implications on who will earn the No. 4 spot in the SCAC West standings, the two teams played at a frantic pace that totaled 48 fouls and a combined 62 free throws. Southwestern owned a 33-26 rebound margin and got 32 points from its bench but couldn't overcome a 17-point second half deficit.
Southwestern opened the game with 16 of the first 24 points for an early 8-point advantage, backed by 60 percent shooting, before a 16-3 run for Millsaps over the ensuing 5:10 put the Majors in front 24-19 with less than 9 minutes left in the half.
The teams traded baskets the remainder of the half until Millsaps ended the final 5:18 on an 11-3 spurt to take a 43-35 lead into the break.
Millsaps used a balanced scoring attack in the second half, with five players netting six points apiece or better, and built its lead to a game-high 17 after opening the half with a game-changing 20-5 run. SU responded with a 13-2 run over the next 5:25 to cut it down to six and set up an exciting final 10 minutes of regulation.
The Pirates continued to fight their way back in the game, getting to within one at 65-64 at the 6-minute mark, but a relentless Millsaps wouldn't concede the lead and held on for an important win.
Behind Sanders' 21 points for Millsaps, \#Chris Ingle\# and Songy each had 14 in addition to \#Blake Martinez\# with 12. SU was led by Nick Caputo's 13 points.
Millsaps controls its own destiny with their final game of the regular season next weekend at Hendrix, simply win and they're in. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
