February 3, 2008

JACKSON – Senior guard Lorenzo "Big Shot" Bailey knocked down a pair of key 3-pointers late in regulation to help force overtime and senior teammate Edrick Montgomery posted his second-straight 30-point game as Millsaps ran its home win streak to 12 games by holding off a very young and talented Birmingham-Southern team 75-69.

Despite shooting just 35.5 percent from the floor after taking 24 more shots and weathering 50 percent shooting from the visiting Panthers, Millsaps found a way to push the game into overtime after trailing by 14 with 12:48 left in regulation and eventually won the game.

In a game that featured five ties and three lead changes, BSC (12-8) got an early jumper from freshman Mark Messenger at the 19:16 mark in the first period and didn't surrender the lead until 1:35 remaining in regulation – a span of 37:41.

Trailing by five, 58-53, with 3:28 remaining, Bailey hit back-to-back 3s for the Majors to cut the lead to one before a steal and layup from junior Chris Sanders gave Millsaps its first lead of the game at 61-60.

An 81 percent free throw shooter entering Sunday's game, freshman Aaron Parr had a chance to win it for BSC in regulation with 11 seconds remaining but missed the second of two free throws to send the game into overtime.

In a reversal of fortunes from a week ago in which Millsaps shot a dismal 16 percent in an overtime loss at Centre, the Majors hit 4-of-5 shots from the floor for 80 percent, including knocking down all five free throw attempts to outscore BSC 14-8.

With the game tied 69-69, Millsaps scored the final six points in the extra frame, highlighted by a steal and a thunderous dunk from Montgomery.

Four scorers notched double figures for the Panthers, led by Daniel Hudson and Roger Williams with 13 points apiece. Messenger added 11 points and Parr added 10 points, while Hudson picked up a team-high six assists.

Behind Montgomery's second-straight 30-point game and double-double, Bailey scored 13 points and Sanders added 12, while Chad Songy picked up a team-high six assists.

Millsaps will continue a four-game homestand on Friday, Feb. 8, playing host to Colorado College and Austin College in the Hangar Dome. The Majors defeated both teams earlier this year on the road, respectively.