WESTMINSTER BOXSCORE      RHEMA BOXSCORE

Conway, Arkansas - The Rhodes College Men's Basketball team opened it's 2007-2008 season in Conway, Arkansas this past weekend as participants in the Cliff Garrison Classic hosted by Hendrix College. The Lynx posted a 1-1 record over the weekend beating Rhema College (Broken Arrow, OK) and losing to Westminster College (Fulton, MO).
In Saturday afternoon action, the Lynx would use double overtime to defeat the Rhema Eagles 101-95. Rhodes built an early 1st half lead behind the three point shooting of Jared Hoskins (So., Rossville, GA) and Joe Thompson (Sr., Nashville, TN). The Lynx led by as many as 10 during the first half but an Eagle rally late in the half would trim the Lynx lead to one point (41-40) heading into the locker room.
The second half would remain close throughout with no lead being larger than 5 points. Rhema would have a 5 point lead with three and a half minutes to play, but three straight scores by Jeff Blumenthal (Jr., Acworth, GA) would put the Lynx up by one with just under two minutes to play in regulation. A free throw by the Eagles would tie the score and a last second effort by Thompson would fall short, pushing the game into its first overtime.
In the first extra session the Lynx would have to overcome an early deficit. Down by one point, freshman Nate Ollie (Memphis, TN) scored a layup with just over one minute to go, and after two free throws by Reid Hamilton (So., Birmingham, AL), Rhodes looked to be in control, but Rhema once again made clutch free throws and the game would head to another overtime session. In the second overtime, the Lynx jumped to an early lead. Two free throws by Justin Long (Sr. Little Rock, AR) extended the lead to seven points and the Lynx would head to their first victory of the 2007-2008 season.
The Lynx offense produced four double digit scorers on the day with Cory Smith (Jr., Bartlett, TN) leading the way with 25 points. Hamilton posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Others netting double digits from the field were Hoskins with 16 and Thompson with 10 points. The Lynx out rebounded the Eagles by a margin of 47-29 including 17 offensive rebounds.

In the Friday game, the Lynx lost a close one to the Blue Jays of Westminster College (MO). The Lynx jumped out to an early 6 point lead but Westminster scored 12 unanswered points and headed into the locker room with a 37-33 advantage. In the second half, Rhodes battled back and tied the game at 66 with just under six minutes, but another scoring run by the Blue Jays put the Lynx behind by 8. Rhodes could not recover, and lost by 3 points 85-82. Despite the loss, the offense was paced with four double digit scorers. Thompson led the way with 24 points including 5 for 8 from beyond the arc. Hoskins also netted 5 three pointers on his way to scoring 20 points. Cory Smith and Reid Hamilton scored 16 and 12 respectively.

With both games being highly competitive and very physical, the Lynx are ready to open their SCAC schedule on November 29th versus Sewanee-University of the South at 8pm in Sewanee, TN. The Lynx then travel to Atlanta, GA to face the Stormy Petrels of Oglethorpe University on December 2nd at 3pm (EST), before opening their home games with Principia College on December 3rd at 7pm in Mallory Gymnasium on campus.