BIRMINGHAM, AL- The Millsaps Majors men's basketball team shot 55 percent from the field but could not overcome Larry Thomas' 33 points in a 82-76 defeat to Birmingham Southern, the conference opener for both teams.
The Majors put four starters in double figures, using a balanced attack to keep up with Birmingham Southern. Ryan Berger had a team high 15 and got the Majors off to a hot start with two quick threes out of the gate as Millsaps grabbed an early 11-4 lead. After a BSC run, the Majors kept pace with threes from Murray Kastner and Tully Gilligan as the Majors grew their lead to nine. The Panthers again had the answer, mounting a 15-3 run to grab a 25-22 advantage. The teams would play even for the final three minutes of the half, with BSC owning a 31-28 lead at the break.
The second half saw some sizzling offense with both teams shooting over 63 percent from the field. The Panthers, who also shot 88 percent from three in the second half, looked to take control of the game after building a 12-point lead. The Majors' bench got Millsaps back into the contest. Mac McElveen draining two threes and Dustin Aubert with a pair of attacking lay-ins that brought the BSC lead back down to four. Once again, BSC continued their hot shooting and stretched the lead out to 14, only to see the Majors respond. Eight straight points by Murray Kastner, free throws by Ronnie Frebis and a lay-in by Tully Gilligan got the Majors within three. However, that was as close as the Majors would get. The Panthers iced the game at the free throw line and threes in the final minute wouldn't fall for the Majors.
Millsaps now sits at 1-4 on the season and 0-1 in SAA play. They will join the women in Texas next weekend with games against the University of Dallas and Austin College on Saturday and Sunday.
A few notes from the game...
The Majors and Panthers each had 34 points in the paint...The Majors were out rebounded 29-23 but both teams had eight second-chance points...Ryan Berger and Ronnie Frebis led the Majors with six rebounds
