JACKSON, Miss. – Sophomore guard Christian Evans (11 points) and senior forward Newlon Gillihan (10 points) both reached double figures in a 67-62 loss to Centenary College (La.). Sophomore wing Cameron Williams was a beast on the boards with a game-high 11 rebounds inside the Gold Dome on Tuesday.
Millsaps (2-6) shot a season best 43.1 percent from the field while holding the Gents to 36.5 percent
Centenary (4-2) won the turnover battle, 16-13 and scored 19 points off those takeaways compared to 12 by the Majors. The Gents also shot 14-for-18 from the charity stripe while Millsaps finished 6-for-12.
Millsaps raced out to a 13-5 lead, forcing a Gents timeout by the Gents at 6:15 into the game.
Following the timeout, two quick buckets off the bench by Bryce Brown gave the majors their first double-digit lead at 18-7.
After the Gents drew even at 23-23 with a 16-5 burst, a three from junior guard Doug Watson and lay-in by Gillihan gave the Majors a five-point advantage with 2:47 remaining. Centenary answered with a six-point run to reclaim the lead. Both teams traded baskets in the final minute as the Gents entered the intermission with a 31-30 advantage.
The Gents jumped out to a 42-33 lead to begin the second half. A corner-pocket three by second-year guard Cam Rucker would cap off a 10-0 run to push Millsaps ahead by one point.
Later in the half with just over nine minutes remaining and Millsaps down by two points, the Gents utilized a 12-2 flurry to get their largest lead of the game at 61-49 with 5:17 left in the game.
A layup by Evans would cut the Majors' deficit to five points with 1:39 left. After the Majors got a pair of stops, Evans and Williams both split a pair of free throws.
Evans corralled Williams' missed free throw and was fouled on the rebound. Shooting the one-and-one, he missed the first free throw to keep the deficit at 65-62 with 30 seconds left. After sending the Centenary to the foul line, the Gents' made it a two-possession game by hitting one of their two free throw attempts.
A missed shot by Millsaps would end their comeback attempt and Centenary would hold on for a 67-62 triumph.
The Majors will next travel to Colorado Springs, Colo. and face Colorado College on Saturday, Dec. 4. Tip off is scheduled for 5 p.m., while live video and stats links can be found on the men's basketball schedule page at gomajors.com.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the men's basketball program follow the Majors on Twitter and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.
