CLINTON, Miss – Despite a late surge from Millsaps, Mississippi College held firm to secure a 64-60 victory in a tightly contested at A.E. Wood Coliseum on Tuesday night.
The win, which improved Mississippi College's record to 3-0, came thanks to a strong second-half effort and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch. Millsaps, now 1-1 on the season, pushed the Choctaws to the limit but came up short after a series of missed opportunities in the final minutes.
Mississippi College was led by senior guard JJ Harris, who scored a game-high 21 points, including 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. His scoring and rebounding (12 total boards) were pivotal in keeping the Choctaws in control. Freshman Tyshun Briscoe contributed 13 points and went a perfect 9-of-10 from the charity stripe, while Tyree Bracey added 10 points and 8 rebounds.
The Choctaws capitalized on their free-throw opportunities, converting 23-of-32 attempts (71.9%).
The first half saw a back-and-forth affair, with the Choctaws holding a slim 31-30 lead at the break. Mississippi College shot just 41.4% and their defense kept them in the game, forcing 12 Millsaps turnovers and holding the Millsaps offense to under 30% shooting from the field.
Millsaps had a balanced scoring attack with Dakota Gasca leading the charge. Gasca finished with 12 points and 8 rebounds, while Mack Gorton added 9 points. The Millsaps offense had a strong start in the second half but was ultimately undone by missed shots and costly turnovers.
Harris hit a pair of clutch free throws with 3:03 left to push Mississippi College's lead to 60-53, and despite a late 3-pointer from Millsaps' Samuel Holt and a jumper from Nicholas Ughovwa, the Choctaws held off the Millsaps rally.
Mississippi College's defense was a key factor in the game, particularly in the paint where they outscored Millsaps 30-24. The Choctaws also dominated the second-chance points battle 14-2, capitalizing on their 39 total rebounds.
Millsaps had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but a missed three-pointer by Gorton with five seconds left sealed the game for the Choctaws. Odis Carter, who had 4 points and 3 rebounds in limited minutes, grabbed the crucial rebound after the miss to secure the win for Mississippi College.
The Choctaws will return to action this weekend as they travel to take on East Central (Okla.) on Saturday for a neutral site matchup at Dallas College Richland beginning at 5:30 p.m. i Dallas, Texas.
Mississippi College 64, Millsaps 60
Scoring Leaders:
Mississippi College – JJ Harris 21, Tyshun Briscoe 13, Tyree Bracey 10
Millsaps – Dakota Gasca 12, Mack Gorton 9, Nicholas Ughovwa 8
Team Stats:
Field Goals: Mississippi College 20-56 (35.7%), Millsaps 22-57 (38.6%)
Three-Point Field Goals: Mississippi College 1-19 (5.3%), Millsaps 4-17 (23.5%)
Free Throws: Mississippi College 23-32 (71.9%), Millsaps 12-18 (66.7%)
Rebounds: Mississippi College 39, Millsaps 38
