JACKSON, MS- Pensacola Christian surged late, thwarting a Majors' second-half comeback as Millsaps dropped the opening game of the Millsaps' New Year's Classic 61-53 on Friday night. 

Marc Robertson led all scorers with 22, including six threes to pace the Majors on Friday night. Josh McSwain recorded a game-high nine rebounds in his first collegiate start.

The Eagles came out scorching on Friday, starting the game on a 9-2. The Majors would get on track midway through the half. Out of a timeout, Millsaps switched to a zone, slowing down the Eagles. McSwain and Robertson sparked the ensuing 9-0 run to bring the Majors to within two at 20-18. Neither team could score in the final two minutes of the half as Pensacola took the two point lead into the break. 

Pensacola again used a hot start in the second half, opening their lead to 10 with a 10-2 run to start the half. The lead continued to grow as the Majors offense was held to just two buckets over the first nine minutes. The Eagles led by as many as 18 before Robertson got hot and sparked a Millsaps comeback. 

A pair of Robertson threes and a pair of Dallas Prater lay-ins brought the lead to single digits. Robertson turned from hot to scorching, hitting three from distance in a 90 second span to bring Millsaps to within four at 47-43 with five minutes remaining. 

That would be as close as the Majors would get on Friday. Pensacola  responded with a 10-0 to put the game away down the stretch, closing out the eight-point victory. 

The loss drops the Majors to 4-6 on the season. They will take on the Rust Bearcats on Sunday in the Majors' second day of the New Year's Classic. Tip time on Sunday is set for 4pm, following the women's game.