SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College men's basketball team battled back from a 10-point deficit late to tie it up against Millsaps, but the 'Roos came up just short in an 81-78 loss to the Majors on Sunday evening in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 1-2 overall with the defeat.
Austin College used it's pressure defense to force the Majors into nine turnovers in the opening 10 minutes of the game en route to taking a big early lead. After Millsaps jumped ahead 5-3, the 'Roos used an 11-3 run to go on top 14-8 after a three from Kameron Hill with 14:39 left in the first half. The lead grew to 24-13 on a basket by Justice Mercadel, but five quick Millsaps points trimmed it to a six-point cushion.
Austin College would push the advantage to 28-18 with 6:59 left before halftime, but a 9-0 run for the Majors cut it to a one-point game, and Millsaps would square things up at 31 apiece on a bucket by Tysin Meads with 46 seconds left in the half.
The teams traded baskets to open the second half, with three lead changes in the first three minutes. With the score tied at 39, the Majors would use an 11-2 run to go on top 50-41 with 15:08 left to play. Josh Quinn's three pointer sparked an 8-1 run that got Austin College back within two at 51-49 but the Majors would answer back with another big run to take their first double-digit lead of the game at 65-54 with eight minutes to play.
The Majors led 71-61 with 5:28 left in the game before Mercadel and Michael Holland scored to cut it to a six-point game, and after a Millsaps basket to push it to 73-65, Holland completed a three-point play and Josh Hardwick got a steal and a bucket to get Austin College to within three. Hardwick would square things up with 2:40 left on a triple on the next Austin College possession.
Millsaps went back ahead 78-73 before a Kam Hogan jumper, and after two free throws by She'Chem Grant gave the Majors a bit of breathing room, Quinn buried a 25-footer to get the 'Roos back to within two at 80-78. Millsaps would hit 1-of-2 free throws to give the 'Roos a chance at the buzzer, but Holland's three pointer rimmed out as time expired.
Holland paced the 'Roos with 16 points and nine rebounds, and also added four steals and a pair of blocks. Quinn hit 4-of-6 from long range on his way to 14 points, and Hogan added 14 and six assists. Hardwick and Hill each scored 11 off the bench.
Grant led all scorers with 24, hitting 6-of-9 from deep. Buck Blanz had 13 points and eight rebounds, and James Turner added 12 points and seven rebounds. Michael Sullivan had 10 assists for the Majors.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.