MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Millsaps men's basketball team held a lead early, but was unable to hold off the undefeated University of the Ozarks, falling 73-66 inside the Mallory Gymnasium on Saturday.
 
Sophomore Rodney Phillips Jr. netted 18 points and six rebounds, while freshman Kallin Fonseca added 12 points in the Rhodes College Classic matchup.
 
The Majors shot 57.1 percent (16-of-28) from the floor in the first half, but were cooled off by the Eagles to 27.3 percent after the break (9-of-33). Millsaps dominated with a 41-16, bench-point edge, while the Ozarks (4-0) secured a 19-9 edge in points-off turnovers.
 
Millsaps led for the entirety of the first half, holding a 40-31 margin at intermission. Fonceca sank a three-pointer to give the Majors their largest lead at 15 points with 6:19 remaining in the opening stanza.
 
The Eagles would find their footing and grab their first advantage at 42-40 with 17:25 remaining on the clock.
 
The lead would grow to nine, but the Majors battled to cut the deficit to five courtesy of a Phillips Jr. dunk midway through the second half.
 
Both teams traded baskets before Fonseca tallied another trey to bring the lead down to four with 4:50 remaining at 63-59.
 
Millsaps junior Drew Roth made it a three-point contest with 1:12 to play following a pair of three throws. Sophomore RJ VanBeber would do the same on the heels of a three-point make, making it 69-66 with 32 seconds left on the scoreboard.
 
The University of the Ozarks would knock down four shots from the line to seal the 73-66 decision.
 
The Majors now will conclude their stay at the Rhodes College Classic by facing DePauw University, beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Live video and live stats are available at gomajors.com.


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