JACKSON, Miss. – The Majors outscored Dillard 13-5 in overtime tonight to take the season opener 72-64 over the Bleu Devils.

The Majors jumped out to a 7-0 lead to open the 2010-11 season tonight as Brian Merkel laid in the first two points off the glass followed by a three and a jumper from Tim White, but they were never able to push the advantage higher than ten points the whole game.

The two teams battled back-and-forth for most of the night. Neither team shot particularly well, both finishing under 40 percent for the game leading to a low-scoring effort from both sides. The Majors let the Bleu Devils claw back from a seven-point deficit as the first half expired and went into the break up just two, 30-28.

Dillard tied the score on their first possession out in the second half, but faltered again allowing the Majors to push their lead back out to ten with 10:05 remaining off a L.V. Sumler layup, 48-38. Then it was time for the Millsaps offense to sputter as the Bleu Devils came back to take their first lead since the beginning of the half at the 4:45 mark, 48-49. Neither team could hold the lead down the stretch and Dillard tied the game with a contested jumper with three seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.

The Majors scored first in the extra frame thanks to a free throw from Brian Merkel and they never trailed again, pushing their lead as high as nine thanks to 60 percent shooting in the period, 3-of-5 from the floor and 7-of-10 from the foul line to keep Dillard from closing the gap again.

L.V. Sumler paced the Majors with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the double-double. Brian Merkel and Nick Cortese also scored in double figures with 11 points each.

The Majors will look to make it two in a row on the young season this Friday as they host Pensacola Christian at 7:00 p.m. in the Hangar Dome.