Box Score
JACKSON – Despite taking a 5-point lead into halftime, the Millsaps College men’s basketball team gave up a late rally to visiting DePauw University who came away with the 67-65 SCAC win Sunday afternoon at The Hangar Dome.
Senior
Cameron Varnado’s last second shot attempt off a
Blake Martinez intentionally missed free throw would have tied the score had it fallen, but bounced off the front iron as time expired.
Millsaps (7-8, 3-4 SCAC) opened the scoring when Martinez found
Chris Ingle in the post for an easy layup as the teams went back-and-forth in the early stages of the first half.
Midway through the half, the Majors took a 20-14 lead when
Brian Merkel pushed the ball up the court and found Varnado for an easy basket.
The Millsaps lead grew to 11 points with under four minutes to play in the half when Merkel converted a 3-point play after stealing the ball from DePauw’s Kevin Sullivan.
The Tigers cut into the lead as they closed the half on a 12-6 run as the Majors took a 43-38 lead into halftime.
Millsaps remained ahead early in the second half, but DePauw continued to close the gap and tied the score 54-54 with less than 12 minutes to play.
Neither team was able to build more than a 3-point lead the rest of the way as they continued to trade baskets.
With the Majors ahead 59-56, the Tigers scored seven of the next eight points to take a 63-60 lead and quiet the crowd.
DePauw’s Tony James made all six of his free throw attempts down the stretch to maintain the slim advantage.
Martinez scored a game-high 20 points for the Majors, but missed three critical free throws – one intentional – in the final minute as the Tigers held on for the 67-65 victory.
Ingle and Varnado each reached double-figures in points for Millsaps with 15 and 14, respectively.
DePauw used a balanced attack as all 11 players dressed got into the game and got their name on the score sheet led by James’ 12 points and nine assists while Steve Lemasters added ten points.
The loss ends a 5-game win streak for the Majors, who are tied for fourth place in the SCAC West Division.
With its fourth straight win, DePauw remains in a three-way tie for first place in the SCAC East Division with a 12-4 overall and 5-2 conference record.
Millsaps will hit the road for a pair of SCAC games next weekend as they face Rhodes College and Birmingham-Southern College, January 22 and 24.