SEWANEE, Tenn. –
Nikolas Avaliani netted 25 points, including 20 in the second half,
Fletcher Bigham registered another double-double and Sewanee connected on 29-of-32 free throws, pulling away in the second half in an 84-62 victory against Millsaps College in men's basketball action here Sunday afternoon at Juhan Gymnasium.
The Tigers (6-8, 2-1 SAA) scored the final nine points of the first half to take a 34-27 lead to intermission. Sewanee then posted a 9-4 spurt to start the second period, opening a 43-31 advantage just over three minutes into the half, forcing a timeout by the Majors.
JD Gardner's basket tied the game at 27 with three minutes to play in the first period and Bigham's field goal put the Tigers in front for good. Gardner added two free throws with 90 seconds to play before a 3-pointer by Bigham and then two foul shots by
Jacob Amonett, who contributed 13 points overall, 11 in the first half, including three 3-pointers.
Jaxon Toney scored on the first possession of the second half for the Majors before a layup by Bigham and a 3-pointer from Avaliani. Field goals by Bigham and
Aidan Treacy stretched the lead to 12.
Baskets by Caleb Kent and Cameron Lumar pulled Millsaps within nine but the Majors head coach was whistled for a technical on a foul underneath the Sewanee basket at the 14:29 mark. Amonett made two free throws and
Philip Ryan, who was fouled on the play, added two more, pushing the advantage back to 13.
Luke LeFors netted a 3-pointer and Kent's short jumper made it an eight-point game with 13 minutes to go. Sewanee answered with a 22-9 run over the next six minutes, with Avaliani netting eight points, including a four-point play after making a 3-pointer in the corner plus the foul.
The Tigers connected on 11-of-12 free throws during the stretch as well, with Millsaps in front trouble and eventually three Majors fouling out. Avaliani was a perfect 8-for-8 at the foul line in the game to lead the Tigers effort and Ryan made all six of his attempts as well.
Bigham finished with 20 points, 15 boards, five assists and five blocks while
Jack Bakken added 10 boards.
Kent and Dakota Gasca each netted 12 points and Toney registered 10 for the Majors.
Sewanee made just 1-of-9 from the field to start the game and trailed 9-2 five minutes into the contest. Bingham's putback of his own miss and a 3-pointer from the junior got Sewanee headed in the right direction offensively.
Colt Donley's triple put the Majors ahead, 12-7, but Avaliani answered with a three from the corner and Amonett's first of three 3-pointers in the half tied the game at 13.
Millsaps came back with five straight points, including a layup by Rodney Phillips, Jr., and a triple from Davion James, but Amonett made another three and Avaliani scored on a short hook in the lane, knotting the contest at 27.
Sewanee travels to Oglethorpe University this coming Friday, beginning a four-game road swing in the conference.
