JACKSON, Miss. -- The Millsaps College men's basketball team was handed their first Southern Athletic Association (SAA) loss of the season as the Centre College Colonels escaped the Hangar Dome with a 78-71 win on Sunday. 

Millsaps trailed 32-27 at halftime, and Centre was able to add two points to that advantage in the second half before the final buzzer sounded. 

The loss drops the Majors to 10-4 overall and 2-1 in the SAA. Centre improves to 12-2 and 2-1 in the league. 

How It Happened
It was back and forth early on with both teams trading baskets in a fast-paced opening half. The Majors found themselves down five points early on, but quickly fought back. 

Joshua Miller made a steal and converted the layup on the other end to put Millsaps up 22-16 with less than eight minutes to play in the half. 

Unfortunately the Colonels outscored Millsaps 16-5 over those final eight minutes to carry a 32-27 lead into halftime. 

The Majors doubled up Centre early in second half, and Anthony Hughes capped off the run with one of his four three-pointers on the afternoon to put Millsaps up 37-36 with 17:23 left to play in the game. 

Kaleb Jenkins was able to push the lead out to 39-36 before the Colonels responded. 

The lead changed hands several times over the next five minutes, but down the stretch Centre's advantage at the free throw line was too much for the Majors to overcome. The Colonels made 34 of their 40 free throw attempts, including ten inside the final minute of the game to secure the win. 
 
Notables
Hughes led the Majors with 15 points while Ryan McLaurin added 14 on 6-9 shooting from the field. 

Jenkins finished with 10 points to close out the double-digit scorers.

What's Next?
Millsaps now faces a two-week stretch of road contests. The Majors will head to Memphis, Tennessee on Friday for a matchup with Rhodes College.