January 28, 2007

JACKSON -- Millsaps built its lead to as many as 21 points in the first half and took a comfortable 48-32 lead into intermission before the visitors from DePauw University put together a furious second half run, on 62 percent shooting, to outscore the Majors 44-26 and pick up a tough road win 76-74.

The victory for the Tigers is their eighth straight, as they improve to 17-3 overall and 8-1 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

The win also lifts DePauw into sole possession of first place in the conference, with Millsaps and Centre sitting in a two-way tie for second at 7-2.

DePauw jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead on three consecutive layups by Stephen Schott, Austin Brown and Reid Sakel before Lorenzo Bailey hit a 3-pointer to send the Majors on a fuming 28-5 run.

The Tigers outscored the Majors 21-18 the remaining 7:36 of the half, including a jumper seconds before the halftime buzzer by Matt McDonald, that left the game at 48-32 in favor of Millsaps at the break.

The Majors’ lead would not last for long, as DePauw head coach Bill Fenlon rallied his troops in the second half and sent the Tigers on a 30-10 run that put them on top 59-58 with 9:41 remaining.

Junior forward Brian Oilar sparked the Tigers’ run, scoring 15 of his team and career high 17 points in the second half, including the jumper that gave DePauw its second lead of the game.

The lead fluctuated back-and-forth the remainder of the game until senior Austin Brown's dunk with 1:20 left and his free throw with 25 seconds remaining lifted the Tigers from a 74-73 deficit to a 76-74 lead.

Millsaps (12-7, 7-2 SCAC) had two cracks at tying the game in the final 25 seconds, but a missed jumper by Allen Odum with 11 seconds left and a missed 3-point attempt by Odum with 1.4 seconds remaining sealed the come-from-behind win for DePauw.

The Majors were led by junior Edrick Montgomery, who poured in his second double-double (22 points, 11 rebounds) in as many nights while Rodney Rogan added 15 and Bailey had 12.

For DePauw, five different scorers were in double figures, including Oilar with 17, Brown with 14 and Schott, Sakel and Ryan Werntz each chipping in 11 apiece.

Millsaps will continue a stretch of four consecutive home games next weekend, playing host to Southwestern University on Friday, Feb. 2, at 8 p.m. and Trinity at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

SCAC games are usually played on Friday and Sunday, but with travel conflicts, this weekend's games will be played on Friday and Saturday.