JACKSON, Miss. - The Bearcats' last-second three missed the rim as the Majors came away with the three-point 59-56 win to advance to the championship game of the 2010 Millsaps New Year's Tournament.
In a back-and-forth game, the Majors (6-4) were able to outlast Rust (7-5) 7-4 over the last seven minutes. L.V. Sumler hit a three with 6:08 remaining to put Millsaps on top 55-52 and the squads traded baskets from there to the final buzzer.
Turnovers really hurt the Bearcats on the night. Millsaps was plus-13, 14-27, and the Majors netted 10 more points off those turnovers, 26-16. Rust outrebounded the Majors 32-31 thanks to 26 defensive rebounds, but the Majors scored 12 second chance points off 14 offensive rebounds to Rust's four points on six offensive.
Nick Cortese led the way for the Majors with 18 points, 12 of which came from downtown. Nick went 4-of-10 from three on the night. Taylor Meades also scored in double figures with 17. Brian Merkel had seven assists to lead both teams.
The Majors wound up shooting 33-percent from the floor (19-of-58), 29-percent from three (8-of-28), and a sizzling 87-percent from the foul line (13-of-15).
Millsaps will advance to the championship game tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m. as they take on the winner of tonight's first game. Mississippi College defeated Belhaven University 84-75 led by Ken Black's 18 points. Belhaven's Rob Wallace paced all scorers on the night with 29 points in the loss. Belhaven will take on Rust at 1:00 p.m. in the consolation game before the 3:00 final.