JACKSON, Miss. — The Millsaps men's basketball team secured a narrow 73-71, thrilling victory over Huntingdon College inside the Hangar Dome on Sunday. The game featured six ties and nine lead changes, with the Majors capitalizing on 25 points off turnovers to gain the edge.
Despite an evenly matched contest in points in the paint, Millsaps (8-2) utilized a 27-11 point disparity with its strong bench and hold on in the final moments for the win.
Huntingdon (6-6) was held to 16.7 percent from long range (3-of-18) in the first half to allow the Majors to find their footing a low-scoring start.
Junior David Combest Jr. led the Majors with season-highs of 14 points and five steals each. He contributed five assists and five rebounds while shooting 5-of-10 from the floor and a perfect 3-of-3 from the free-throw line.
Classmate Cameron Lumar contributed 13 points, including three 3-pointers, and recorded a season-high three steals while shooing 4-of-5 from the foul line and contesting four rebounds against the Hawks on Sunday.
Junior Rodney Phillips Jr. posted season-bests of 11 points and eight rebounds. The Marrero, La., native also boasted one block while shooting 5-of-9 in non-conference action.
Senior Caleb Kent added eight points and grabbed seven rebounds, while also securing two steals in a balanced effort.
Junior Davion James added nine points, three assists and a steal.
Millsaps began the first half with a strong offensive display, utilizing the inside game effectively to keep pace with Huntingdon. Despite falling behind early, the Majors capitalized on key turnovers and converted them into points, highlighted by Lumar's back-to-back 3-pointers at 5:42 and 5:27, which shifted the momentum in favor of the home team. Lumar also converted a rare four-point during the sequence.
Millsaps maintained their lead through defensive stops, concluding the half ahead 33–31.
The Majors maintained their advantage early in the second half with Lumar and Combest Jr. each hitting key 3-pointers. This offensive push was complemented by a defensive effort, as the Majors forced multiple turnovers and added points from fast-break opportunities. A layup and subsequent free throw by Combest Jr. further extended their lead, showcasing the ability to capitalize on the visitors' mistakes. The lead grew to as large as 63-49 with 7:40 to play.
Huntingdon fought back, managing to tie the game at 67-67 with a 3-pointer and earlier 11-0 run. However, the Majors responded decisively in the final moments. Layups by James and Kent along with clutch free throws by Combest Jr. in the last 32 seconds secured a narrow 73-71 lead.
The final defensive series saw Huntingdon miss two shots in the closing seconds before Phillips Jr. grabbed the final rebound at the buzzer.
Millsaps will next host the University of the Ozarks on Tuesday, beginning at 3 p.m. The matchup will take place in Jackson in a rematch, with live video and 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.
