JACKSON, Miss. – The Millsaps College men's basketball team was challenged by Berry College second-half performance and three-point shooting, falling 80-74 inside the Hangar Dome on Saturday.
Junior Caleb Kent led the Majors in scoring with 16 points, while accumulating five rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot.
Classmate Dakota Gasca recorded 12 points, two steals, an assist and a pair of rebounds against the Vikings.
Sophomore Cameron Lumar posted 11 points, two boards, two assists and one steal.
Senior Nicholas Ughovwa tied a season-high of six blocks, while adding eight rebounds, two steals and 10 points.
Classmate Drew Roth also posted 10 points and added six rebounds; he also boasted one assist and a steal on defense, while shooting 5-of-8 from field goal range.
Graduate TJ Hogan's solid performance on the court consisted of eight points and a rebound. He was 2-of-2 from long range.
Millsaps (3-13, 1-2 SAA) bested Berry (10-7, 3-1 SAA) in several statistical categories, dominating in the paint (40-22) and in bench points (30-12).
The Majors also outscored the Vikings, 18-4 in second chance points and both teams shot an even 45.1 percent.
However, Berry was lights out from three-point range, sinking 44.4 percent (12-of-27) and shooting 84.6 percent from the free-throw line (22-of-26).
In the beginning of the first half, Berry took a six-point lead before a pair of Roth's layups tied the contest at 6-6.
Moments later, Kent and Lumar layups would give Millsaps their first advantage by one point.
Both teams would bargain points back and forth as freshman Matheus Siqueira (five points, one steal) knocked down a layup and a three-pointer to lift Millsaps ahead, 26-24.
With 3:34 remaining in the second half, Berry would knock down a trey to take back their lead and move up to 34-28.
Gasca's deep three-pointer later cut the Majors' deficit down to three before the West Monroe, La., native would collect a steal on defense.
Roth would find the basket with a tip-in layup at the buzzer to close out the first half, with Berry still in front, 38-35.
In the opening of the second half, Kent's layup would shorten the opponent's lead by one before the Vikings marched ahead to a 14-point lead with 14:55 to go.
After being down by 14 points, the Majors would come roaring back as Hogan knocked down a pair of three-pointers to fight back into the game, only trailing by eight.
Berry would begin struggling further as a Roth slam dunk inside the paint would decrease the Viking margin to 63-59.
Retaining their focus, the opposing team would take an 11-point advantage following a trey and two free throws.
However, Ughovwa's pair of made free throws and a Kent floating jump shot cut the deficit down to five points.
Looking to make a comeback in the second-half home stretch, Lumar netted a three-pointer and pull up jumper down the stretch. It wasn't enough as the Vikings would stay ahead to claim the victory, 80-74 on Saturday.
The Majors will be back in action and challenge Oglethorpe inside the Hangar Dome, beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Live video and live stats will be available at gomajors.com.
To keep updated with everything surrounding the Millsaps College men's basketball program this season 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.
