'Roo Men Fall to Majors

SHERMAN, Texas –Millsaps used a big second half to pull away from the Austin College men's basketball team, as the Majors handed the 'Roos a 90-67 loss on Friday night in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 2-4 overall while the Majors improve to 7-0.

Austin College came out hot early on, sprinting to a 17-4 lead in the opening minutes of the game. Kameron Hill and Kam Hogan each knocked down a pair of threes, and Justice Mercadel added a triple during the first six and a half minutes. Millsaps countered with a 14-3 run to cut it to a 20-18 game with 10:47 left before the break, but Hogan drilled another trey to push it back to a five point lead.

Millsaps took its first lead of the game at 26-24 with 6:12 to go in the half, and the Majors would head into halftime with a 42-37 advantage. Despite their strong start in the game, the 'Roos ended the half shooting just 30.6% from the field, but made 7-of-17 from deep to keep things close. Millsaps shot 42.9% from the field in the opening half.

Austin College opened the second half with a 6-0 run capped by a triple from Michael Holland to take a 44-43 lead, and after the Majors pulled back ahead, Luke Brumbaugh splashed a three to put the 'Roos ahead 48-47 with 16:09 left in the game. That would be the last lead of the game fo rhte 'Roos, however, as Millsaps used a 9-0 run to take control. Derek Lockman's three cut it to a 59-53 game with 10:33 remaining, but another 9-0 run made it 68-53 and put things out of reach for Austin College.

Millsaps would outscore the 'Roos 48-30 after halftime, shooting 57.9% from the field in the second half compared to just 32.4% shooting for Austin College. The Majors finished the game shooting 50%, and the 'Roos finished with a 31.4% shooting performance as a team. Millsaps also owned a 57-37 edge on the glass.

Devin Roland led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting, grabbing six rebounds and coming away with four steals as well. Hogan finished with 14 points, four steals, and three assists as the only other 'Roo to reach double figures. Mercadel handed out a team-best seven assists in the loss.

Saxton Becker paced Millsaps with 16 points and Ryan McLaurin added 14, while Justin Van Pent chipped in 10 for the Majors. Cameron Carvelli had nine points, eight assists, and six rebounds.

Austin College is off until December 11, when the 'Roos host Paul Quinn College in Hughey Gym.  

Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.