JACKSON- The Millsaps Majors put three players in double figures and knocked off the Rust Bearcats 83-64 to sweep the Millsaps' New Year's Classic.
Marc Robertson had a game-high 22 and Mac McElveen had a career-high 19 points to lead the Majors on Sunday afternoon. The Majors pounded the glass, out rebounding Rust 47-29 including 17-6 on the offensive glass to help propel them to victory.
The two teams were tightly contested in the first half, with six ties and six lead changes between the two teams in the opening 10 minutes. Marc Robertson had a pair of threes to lead the Majors early in the half. McElveen helped spark the Majors late, grabbing five first half offensive rebounds. His put back and one gave the Majors a 32-28 lead with five minutes to go in the half. McElveen kept the hot hand, scoring the Majors last four points to give the Majors a 40-32 lead. A late Rust three would send the teams to the break with the Majors up five. It was a relentless pursuit of rebounds that kept the Majors with the lead. The Majors out rebounded Rust 22-11 in the first half including 10-2 on the offensive glass.
The Majors stretched the lead out to nine after a lay-in by Ryan Berger and another Robertson three. Murray Kastner battled foul trouble all game, but four quick points from the senior answered a Rust mini-run to keep the lead comfortable at 55-48. Rust continued to chip away at the Majors lead, drawing to within three on multiple occasions in the second half. Tully Gilligan had a pair of lay-ins sandwiched around a steal to give the Majors some breathing room, making it 66-55 with six and a half left.
The big play in the game happened after another Gilligan steal, he outlet passed it to Robertson who got hammered by O'Darius Lowe, resulting in an intentional foul. The Majors got two free throws and the ball. Robertson hit both and McElveen drained a three. That swing put the Majors up 14 with four minutes left and they never looked back.
The Majors would get another intentional foul against Rust in the final minutes. Dustin Aubert and Robertson combined for a four-point possession, icing the game. The Majors now sit at 3-7 on the season, winning two straight and sweeping the Classic. They re-enter SAA play next weekend. The Majors travel to Centre and Sewanee and will take on the Colonels in Danville on Friday night. Tip time is set for 8pm eastern.
A few notes from today's game
Tully Gilligan nearly had a triple-double with 9 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists...The Majors had a 12-6 advantage on second chance points and 42-26 on points in the paint...Millsaps turned 14 Rust turnovers in 20 points...Mac McElveen nearly had a double-double with 9 boards with his 19 points...Ronnie Frebis had 10 points off the bench...Ethan Myers led Rust with 14 points.
