SHERMAN, Texas - The Millsaps men's basketball team remains on the bubble for the SCAC tournament next weekend thanks to a 54-62 loss tonight at Austin College.

The Majors (10-14, 4-11 SCAC) went cold in the final five minutes of play tonight and allowed the 'Roos (11-12, 7-8 SCAC) to pull away for the critical conference win.

Millsaps led early on, by as many as ten in the first half, but an 11-2 run in the closing minutes allowed Austin to close the lead down to one, 29-28, with 2:30 remaining in the half. A three pointer from Nick Cortese at the 1:33 mark set the halftime score at 32-28 Majors, as both teams went scoreless from then until the horn sounded the end of the half.

LV Sumler hit a layup off a steal by Cortese to strike first in the new half, but then the 'Roos went on a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game, 34-35 just under five minutes into the half. The two teams went back-and-forth over the next ten minutes with neither able to gain the advantage. Tim White nailed a three with 5:00 mintues remaining to tie the score at 50.

The Majors went on a cold snap from there, hitting just two of their final ten field goal attempts allowing the 'Roos to pull away for the win, 54-62. The eight point lead was Austin's largest of the night.

Taylor Meades set the high-point total for the game at 19 points with two steals. LV Sumler led all rebounders, pulling in 13 on the night. Austin's Walter Phillips had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. The Majors forced 17 'Roo turnovers for the game, including 15 steals. LV Sumler led with five picks, Brian Merkel and Nick Cortese each had three.

The Majors will have one last chance to get into the eight team field for next weekend's SCAC Basketball Tournament. A win at Colorado College on Sunday, or a Hendrix College loss at Austin would earn the Majors the fourth seed out of the West for the second year in a row. A Hendrix win coupled with a Millsaps loss would hand the spot to the Warriors.

The 2011 SCAC Basketball Tournament is heading to Jackson for the second time in as many years next weekend, February 25-27. Full information on the tournament is available at this link.