DAYTONA- The Millsaps Majors dropped their second game in Daytona, a 68-48 decision to the Shenandoah Hornets on Saturday night.
The Majors shot just 27 percent from the field including 2 of 16 from three-point range as the iron proved unkind on Saturday.
Murray Kastner and Ryan Berger provided the early offense for the Majors as the two combined for the Majors' first seven points and taking a one point lead through the game's opening five minutes. The teams traded baskets for the next eight minutes as the lead changed hands four times during that span. A pair of Ronnie Frebis free throws gave the Majors a 17-16 lead with just over seven minutes to go. The Hornets responded with an 8-2 run to take the half's largest lead at 24-19. Four straight Alex Gerchow free throws closed out the opening 20 as Millsaps trailed by only one at 25-24.
The Hornets would race out of the gate on a 14-3 run to take a 39-27 lead with 15 minutes left. Shenandoah turned three Majors' turnovers into six points during the spurt. A Berger three-point play snapped the Majors' cold streak, making it a 45-32 lead with 12 minutes to go. That play got the Majors going as Marc Robertson drained a three and Frebis added two more from the charity stripe as Millsaps got with eight at 45-37 midway through the half.
The Hornets then went on another run, this time 10-2 over the next four minutes to make it a 18-point lead. Mac McElveen and Dustin Aubert would get late jumpers, but the Hornets proved too much on Saturday night.
The loss stretched the Majors losing streak to six as they fell to 1-7. The Hornets improved to 6-3 on the year, including three straight. The Majors now take the rest of 2013 off as they welcome in Centenary and Rust for the Millsaps' New Years Classic. The Majors will take on the Centenary Gentlemen on Friday, January 3rd at 7pm to tip things off.
A few notes from the game:
Ryan Berger led the Majors with 11 points...The Hornets had a 29-5 points off turnovers advantage...The Majors had a 17-6 edge in second-chance points...The Majors out rebounded the Hornets 39-34 including 15-8 on the offensive glass...Berger and Frebis each had six rebounds to lead the Majors.
