Panthers rack up 15th win of season, 64-41 over Millsaps
Mark Messenger pulled in a game-high 12 rebounds against Millsaps
1/24/2010 4:41:34 PM
Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Birmingham-Southern men’s basketball team continued to roll in SCAC cross-divisional play this afternoon, defeating West Division foe Millsaps, 64-41, in front of a nice crowd in Bill Battle Coliseum. The win improves BSC to 15-2 on the season and 7-2 in conference play. The Majors drop to 4-10 and 1-7 on the year.
The Majors struck first, taking the early 2-0 lead, but the Panthers quickly took control. Millsaps last lead of the half came with 12:25 remaining. Hart Ahumada retook the lead for BSC on the next possession and started a 10-0 run that ended with a Caleb Lee layup that put BSC firmly in the driver’s seat at 23-14. ‘Southern used the remaining 9:37 to add to their lead and went into the half up 34-20.
The Majors got the lead down to single digits at the 11:02 mark thanks to a free throw that cut the Panther lead down to nine at 43-34. But, a Wheeler Flemming free throw pushed the lead back to ten on the next possession. Millsaps would not get that close again.
Kevin Kegarise led the Panthers offensively with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor. Jasen Jonus joined him in double-figures with 12 points of his own. Mark Messenger cleaned up the boards for the Panthers with 12 rebounds for the game. Blake Martinez scored eight for Millsaps to lead the Majors on the day.
As a team, the Panthers shot 20-of-55 from the floor (36 percent), 10-of-28 from beyond the arc (36 percent), and 14-of-23 from the free throw line (61 percent). Millsaps shot 33 percent from the floor, 17 percent from three, and 73 percent from the charity stripe. The Panthers out-rebounded the Majors 39, including 35 on the offensive/defensive end.
The Panthers will return to the hardwood next Friday when they travel down to Texas for their second West Division road trip. BSC will play Trinity University at 8:00 p.m. in San Antonio before heading over to Georgetown to face Southwestern on Sunday.