JACKSON, MS- Millsaps erased a double-digit halftime deficit but their rally fell short in a 56-53 loss to the Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels on Friday night.
The Majors held the Petrels without a field goal for the first 11 minutes of the second half as they chipped away at a 36-24 Petrel lead at the half. Oglethorpe used a 11-0 run to grab a 20-10 lead midway through the first half. Threes by Dustin Aubert and Ryan Detillieu kept the Majors within striking distance as Oglethorpe maintained the lead. Another run, this one 9-3, closed the half for Oglethorpe and staked them to their 12-point lead at the break.
The Millsaps' defense fueled the comeback as the Majors heated up from the field. Again it was the long ball that helped the Majors. Dallas Prater and Marc Robertson each hit threes as Millsaps made it a two-point game at 38-36 just six minutes into the half.
A Quinn Atkinson lay-in just minutes later gave the Majors a 40-39 lead, their first of the second half. However, the Petrels had one more rally left in them, going on an 8-0 run to go ahead by six at 51-45 with seven minutes to go.
The Millsaps' defense stymied the Petrels holding Oglethorpe to two points over the next five minutes. The Majors would use four straight points from Alex Gerchow to get within two at 53-51 and a Myles Moore lay-in with five seconds left to get within one at 54-53.
But Oglethorpe played a successful game of keep away as the Majors couldn't foul until there was under a second remaining. After two made free throws, the Millsaps' entry pass was broken up and the comeback ultimately fell short.
Dustin Aubert led the Majors with game-high 14 points on 6-7 shooting on the evening. Gerchow nearly missed a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds. Drew Patrick led a balanced Oglethorpe team with a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The loss drops Millsaps to 5-11 overall and 1-4 in conference. They will look to get a win on Sunday when they host the Berry Vikings with the tip set for 3pm following the women's game between the two teams.
