MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Millsaps College men's basketball team nearly fought back, but a last-second three-pointer by East Texas Baptist University lifted the Tigers to a 78-73 overtime victory inside Mallory Gymnasium on Sunday.
Millsaps (2-10) overcame a seven-point deficit, but ETBU (4-10) found a clutch trey at the second-half buzzer in the Rhodes Holiday Classic. The Tigers shot 71.4 percent (5-for-7) in overtime to pull away late.
The Majors bested ETBU in several statistical categories, including points in the paint (36-26) and points off turnovers (16-1). However, the Tigers used eight three-pointers effectively, including one at the end of regulation and again in extra time.
Junior Caleb Kent led Millsaps with 21 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal. Classmate Dakota Gasca recorded 13 points and three assists. He also tied season highs with six rebounds and three steals.
Sophomore Cameron Lumar generated 13 points and two boards. Both seniors Nicholas Ughovwa (six rebounds) and Drew Roth (seven rebounds, one steal, one assist) chipped in eight points each. Graduate TJ Hogan added season highs of seven points and two steals, while adding three boards and an assist.
Ughovwa got the scoring started for the Majors with a smooth turnaround hook shot.
ETBU then used a 7-0 run early to take a 15-10 lead. Hogan used a solid pull-up jumper to put Millsaps back on the board.
The Tigers led 23-15 before Lumar sank a couple free throws and Kent laid the ball in at the basket with five minutes left in the first half to respond.
After sophomore Noah Babineaux netted a layup, ETBU closed the half with a made pull-up shot to lead, 31-26 at intermission.
Lumar's back-to-back layups then made it a 33-30 deficit in the opening moments of the second half.
ETBU continued to maintain the advantage until Hogan, Roth and Gasca sank three consecutive three-pointers to tie the game at 43-43 with 14:27 to go.
The Tigers would build their scoring edge back up to five points before Lumar scored two two-pointers midway into the second half.
Grabbing the team's first lead since 10-8, Gasca provided a clean jumper to give Millsaps a 53-52 advantage with 7:08 remaining.
ETBU reclaimed the lead at 59-57 with three minutes on the game clock after a 7-2 late push.
After two missed Tiger free throws and with two minutes left, Kent answered with a driving layup to knot the score once more.
The Tigers would make good at the charity stripe and push back ahead, 61-59 now with 1:18 remaining.
A crucial and-one followed by Lumar on the next possession, who collected a rebound, scored, was fouled and made a go-ahead free throw.
ETBU then missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw. Gasca followed by scoring with 13 seconds to play with a layup, making it a 64-61 Major margin.
The Tigers missed an initial three-point try, corralled the rebound and threw up a turnaround, desperation attempt and connected to send the game to overtime at the buzzer.
Maintaining their confidence in the extra frame, Roth scored a tip-in layup to give Millsaps a 66-64 advantage in overtime on the Majors' first offensive possession.
The teams traded baskets until the game was 70-70 when ETBU called time with 2:27 remaining in overtime. The Tigers eventually grabbed a 73-71 margin with 1:45 to go courtesy of a trey.
Later trailing by four points, Kent netted yet another layup to cut the deficit back to two. ETBU then secured an offensive rebound and made it 76-73 at the free-throw line.
The Majors looked to tie the contest with a trey with six seconds left, but it fell just short. The Tigers scored twice more at the free-throw stripe and held on for a 78-73 decision in extra time.
After five games away from home, the Majors will return to host Belhaven University on Saturday, Jan. 4. Start time is slated for 4 p.m. with live video and live stats available at gomajors.com.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps College men's basketball program follow the Majors on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.
