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Majors Win SCAC
Conference, Lose in NCAA Tournament The men’s basketball team closed out its regular season at home with great fanfare on February 24 by clenching its first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship since the 1995-96 season, defeating Oglethorpe University 101-66. The Majors dominated from the first quarter and ended the half at 51-25. Shooting 55% from the field and 37% from three-point range, it was the team’s third 100+ points game of the season. Sophomore center Thomas Adams topped scoring with 24 points and 11 rebounds, making an assist and a blocking a shot, and junior guard Daniel Waguespack backed him with 22 points, eight rebounds, a career-high seven assists and three steals. Senior guard Landon Litty posted 13 points and dealt out three assists, and sophomore guard Trent Forrest had 11 points, two assists, and a steal. Two more seniors had good performances: guard Travis Ezelle with nine points, five assists, and two steals, and center Joe Rogers with nine points and four blocks. After the game, the team cut down the net in celebration. With the victory over Oglethorpe, the Majors won a bid to the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament. While the Majors’ first trip to the tournament since 1996 was big news, the decision by the NCAA for the Majors to host cross-town rival Mississippi College in the first round of play added fuel to the fire. But despite a capacity crowd of more than 2000 fans and the stands being filled 40 minutes before game time, Millsaps finished their season with a 45-61 loss to Mississippi College. “It was a tough loss,” Coach John Stroud said. “We shot poorly, and it cost us the game. But winning 20 games and the conference championship is a tremendous achievement, and I am proud of these players and what they accomplished this year. They are great athletes and great students. They are a real credit to Millsaps.” Coach John Stroud was named as a SCAC Co-Coach of the Year, along with Rose-Hulman coach Jim Shaw. Stroud also became the winningest coach in Major men’s basketball history with 170 victories. The Majors ended the season with a record of 20-6, and many starters are returning next year. Thomas Adams, a sophomore forward from Columbus, and Daniel Waguespack, a junior guard from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, were named to the All-SCAC First Team. Michael Schwitter, junior forward from Plano, Texas, received Honorable Mention All-SCAC. PREVIOUS PAGE | PAGE 1 OF 8 Stories | NEXT STORY |