BELTON, Texas. – Millsaps dropped the opening game of the Cru Classic to the hosts Mary Hardin-Baylor, 87-80 Thursday night. Freshman Kalvin Spikes made his collegiate debut after missing the first nine games of the season due to injury. Standing at 6'9, the big man netted 13 points and pulled down a game high nine rebounds in 14 minutes of action.

Once again Michael Sullivan got out to a scorching start. The junior scored all 14 of his points in the first 12 minutes of the game, helping his team jump out to a quick 10-3 lead in which he was responsible for eight of those points. UMHB then found their offense and ramped up the pace, outscoring the Majors 30-11 taking a 33-21 lead with 4:58 left in the first. Millsaps would take a 46-37 deficit heading into the halftime break, staying in it with key baskets late in the first.

The Majors closed to within six points in the early minutes of the second half when Sam Kohnke drilled a three and Buck Blanz followed with a basket, but UMHB was able to open it up again. The Cru would stretch the lead out to 23 points at 78-55 with 5:37 remaining in the game. Millsaps was able to chip away from the free-throw line against UMHB's reserves down the stretch to cut it to the final margin, but never got closer than seven points in the final five minutes.

Joining Sullivan and Spikes in double figures were Saxton Becker, who put up 13 points and five rebounds off the bench, and Joshua Miller, who was a perfect 7-7 from the free throw line to finish with 11 points. Millsaps was in command on the boards as they outrebounded UMHB 48-38.

Millsaps now falls to 3-7 on the season and will return to action on Friday for a 3:00 p.m. start against Louisiana College to conclude the Cru Classic.

Portions of this release provided by Mary Hardin-Baylor.