LONGVIEW, Texas — The Millsaps men's basketball team played tough and physical but fell short to LeTourneau University, 90-82 in the second half on Thursday night at Solheim Arena.
Millsaps (7-2) mounted a strong comeback in the second half, outscoring LeTourneau 48-34 and playing in consecutive days.
The Majors outshot the YellowJackets from the field, but were bettered from 3-point range and at the foul line.
LeTourneau (5-3) used impressive bench scoring (41-10) and a fast start to claim the win.
Junior Jaxon Toney led the Majors with a double-double while recording a season-high 23 points and collected 11 rebounds off the glass.
The Memphis, Tenn., native also added two blocks while shooting 10-of-13 from the field.
Classmate Davion James tallied 18 points on the night and recorded three rebounds and two steals on defense.
Junior Cameron Lumar added 10 points on the court, posting three steals and three rebounds along with four assists.
Third-year student David Combest Jr. contributed 13 points and nearly achieved a double-double with nine rebounds. Combest Jr. also recorded two steals against his opponents.
Combest Jr. shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line and went 4-of-6 from the field.
Millsaps opened the first half with a layup by Toney, but the YellowJackets quickly responded, establishing a strong lead early.
The hosts built a 40-15 margin with 6:15 until intermission. The Majors would fight back slightly to trail, 56-34 at halftime.
Millsaps would respond after the break, narrowing the gap with a 22-2 run over the final moments of the first half and into the second frame.
This surge was highlighted by James, who contributed significantly with multiple baskets, including a fastbreak 3-pointer with 17:06 left.
Toney added to the momentum with a dunk a couple minutes later, further energizing the team. Millsaps cut the deficit to 58-51, trailing by seven points five minutes into the second half.
The YellowJackets grew their advantage back up to 16 points, but a layup fastbreak layup cut it to single digits at 71-62.
Unfortunately this is the closest the Majors would get early in the comeback effort as the teams traded baskets and blows down the stretch. Combest Jr. made it a 7-point contest in the last few seconds, but the hosts held on for a 90-82 decision.
Millsaps next returns home to face off against Huntingdon College on Sunday, Dec. 28, at 5 p.m. inside the Hangar Dome. Live video and live stats will be provided 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 and 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.
