Points in the Paint Sink Gents Basketball at Millsaps, 70-55

Photo courtesy of Hailey Lawson
Photo courtesy of Hailey Lawson

JACKSON, Miss. – The Gents jumped out to an early nine-point lead, but a 34-10 advantage in points in the paint by the Majors proved to be the difference as Centenary (1-5) lost at Millsaps (6-0) 70-55 Tuesday night, November 27.

Senior Treylan Matthews hit a pair of early threes around a jumper by freshman Ricky Ray to give Centenary the 8-2 advantage. The Gents made 3-of-4 from the line to push the advantage to 11-2 with 13:42 left in the first half. Millsaps tied the game at 15, but a pair from the line by sophomore Prentis Washington and a fastbreak three and a split from the line for freshman Ty Prince quickly pushed the lead back to six.

Matthews and senior Kaharri Carter led the Gents with 12 points each.

Millsaps trailed 26-23 before a 16-1 run to end the first half and begin the second gave the home team a double-digit lead. The Majors led 47-33 until a 14-3 run by the Gents cut the deficit to a single possession. Ray hit a pair from the line and senior Mitchell Tarantolo split from the charity stripe. Ray then picked up a steal and fed Carter for the fastbreak hoop to cut the deficit to single-digits. Millsaps hit a three, but Carter answered with a triple for the Gents.

Freshman Kile Mingo and Matthews capped the run with threes. Centenary trailed 50-47 with 10:56 left in the game.

Millsaps led 52-50 before a 15-3 run put the game out of reach. After a pair from the charity stripe, Matt Owens tallied the old-fashioned three to quickly put the home team up seven. Kelvin Spikes hit a jumper to extend the lead to nine. Carter hit 3-of-4 from the line around a Cameron Carvelli jumper, but a Saxton Barker jumper pushed the Millsaps lead to double-digits for good. Joshua Miller made a layup, and two from the line put the Majors up 67-53 with less than a minute left.

Ray picked up a steal and a fastbreak jumper for the only field goal for the Gents in the final 9:27 of the game.

Becker came off the bench to lead Millsaps with 10 points.

Centenary plays its final game in November Thursday when it hosts Howard Payne. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.