JACKSON, Miss. — The Millsaps College men's basketball team defeated Belhaven, 88-80 at Charles R. Rugg Arena on Tuesday night.
Millsaps (6-1) converted 31 free throws and dominated the paint with 48 points. Belhaven managed to close the gap in the second half, but Millsaps's 17 steals and 44-30 rebound disparity helped secure the win.
The Majors completed the first season sweep of Belhaven since the 2022-23 season.
Junior Jaxon Toney led with 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting and collected 13 rebounds, one block and a steal on defense.
Senior Caleb Kent scored 12 points while adding six rebounds, two steals, and shot 5-of-10 from the floor on Tuesday.
Junior Cameron Lumar posted 14 points, including two 3-pointers, and recorded three steals.
Classmate David Combest Jr. contributed 13 points and seven rebounds, along with five assists and two steals against the Blazers.
Millsaps began the first half with a strong offensive performance, maintaining competition with Belhaven through early lead exchanges.
Toney contributed significantly with a layup at 17:49 to tie the score at 6-6, and a solid defensive block seconds later to disrupt the Blazers' momentum.
As the half progressed, Millsaps capitalized on Belhaven's turnovers, with Lumar's layup and free throw at 12:16 pushing the Majors ahead, 22-18.
Millsaps then seized their opportunity with a scoring run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Lumar with 3:33 remaining until halftime that got the Majors' bench excited inside the Rugg Arena, extending their lead to 35-28.
Millsaps finished the half ahead 42-33, setting a solid foundation against their rival opponents.
Millsaps surged ahead early in the second half with a 10-point run, highlighted by layups from Combest Jr. and Colt Donley's and-one.
Lumar provided a spark and 3-pointer six minutes into the second half to push the Majors ahead by nine points.
Combest Jr. then made an and-one of his own with 7:38 left to make it 68-61.
The momentum continued as a fastbreak steal and driving layup by Combest Jr. to push Milsaps in front, 72-63 moments later.
A Belhaven trey cut it to five points at 72-67, but Toney answered with a drive to the basket before James connected on a side-stepping 3-pointer over a leaping defender, giving Millsaps a 77-67 advantage with four minutes remaining.
Toney then brought down the tomahawk dunk to put the exclamation point on the evening. The Millsaps fans leapt to their feet and the Majors flew ahead, 82-73 in 1:51 remaining.
Belhaven managed to cut the deficit to five points, but Millsaps was able to ice away the game at the free-throw line and with another pair of steals.
The Majors will remain on the road and travel to Texas. Millsaps will face Austin College in Sherman, Texas on Wednesday, Dec. 17, beginning at 1 p.m. Live video will be available via a FloCollege subscription with live stats 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.
