The Millsaps College men’s basketball team was eliminated from the Southern Athletic Association tournament after an 89-79 loss to Southwestern University on Thursday at the Cage Center in Mt. Berry, Georgia.
The No. 4 seed Majors (15-11) outscored the Pirates 45-17 in bench points and 12-6 in points off turnovers but could not overcome Southwestern’s offensive efficiency. The Pirates, seeded fifth, shot 51.5% from the field and led for most of the game, building a 22-point lead in the first half before holding on for the victory.
Junior Jaxon Toney led Millsaps with 21 points, adding six rebounds, three blocks, and one steal. Senior Dakota Gasca scored 17 points with three rebounds and one assist. Junior Colt Donley contributed 12 points and shot 3-for-4 from three-point range. Freshman Davion James grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds and scored nine points.
The game began with Southwestern taking an early 13-6 lead and expanding it to 38-20 with five minutes remaining in the first half. The Pirates led 49-29 at halftime after shooting over 56% from the floor in the opening period. Millsaps was limited to 28.1% shooting in the first half but outscored Southwestern 6-2 in points off turnovers.
In the second half, the Pirates pushed their lead to 52-29 before Millsaps mounted a comeback. Toney and Perez sparked a rally, cutting the deficit to 69-59 with 7:22 remaining. Millsaps continued to chip away at the lead, but Southwestern’s offense held firm, securing the win.
The Majors finish their season with the most wins since 2019-20 and a winning record overall. They were unable to advance further in the tournament but demonstrated resilience in the second half. For updates on Millsaps men’s basketball, follow the team on X, Instagram, and Facebook, or visit gomajors.com.
Millsaps College, founded in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1890, is a liberal arts institution recognized for academic excellence and values-based education. The college has received rankings from Colleges That Change Lives, U.S. News & World Report, and others.
