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January 19, 2008
JACKSON – Five
different scorers posted double figures for Millsaps, led by sophomore
guard Blake
Martinez with a career-high
18 points off the bench, and the 23rd-ranked Majors hit the century mark
for the first time in seven seasons to rout the visiting Stormy Petrels
of Oglethorpe.
It marked the 11th-straight
win for the streaking Majors and kept them one of five teams with an
undefeated record in Division III play. Millsaps’ lone
loss of the season came on the road to Division I foe Southeastern Louisiana,
73-55, on Nov. 25.
No. 23 Millsaps (14-1, 6-0 SCAC) opened the game with a lot of emotion
behind an electric home crowd, jumping out to a 17-4 lead over the opening
4:03 and sinking seven of its first nine shots.
They scored a season-high 55 points in the first half on 54 percent
shooting, including 69 percent shooting (11-of-16) from 3-point range,
to hold a 20-point edge at the break. Martinez scored 12 of his team-high
18 in the first off four 3s, while senior Allen
Odum added 10.
The Majors cruised from there,
keeping their lead in the mid-20’s
the remainder of the game and making good use of transition buckets off
a strong OU press. Millsaps had an unprecedented 32 fast break points
to the Petrels’ eight.
Millsaps emptied the bench the final three minutes to allow the home
crowd to applause the strong play of the starters and give several newcomers
a chance to step on the court. With the century-mark lurking in the window,
freshman Cody Aucoin stepped up and hit five-straight points off a 3-ball
and a layup to give the Majors the milestone.
Despite being outrebounded 40-32, Millsaps thrived off 25 forced turnovers
and a season-high 28 assists, led by senior Lorenzo
Bailey with a game-high
six.
Odum (16), Bailey (13), Rodney
Rogan (12) and Chad Songy (10) were the
other Majors in double figure scoring, while OU was led by senior Craig
Jackson with a game-high 22 points. Ahmad Kareem Shaheed and Joe Kennedy
added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Millsaps will close a two-game homestand on Sunday afternoon, playing
host to Sewanee-University of the South at 3 p.m. in the Hangar Dome. |